Allele specific modulators of p23h rhodopsin

ABSTRACT

The present embodiments provide methods, compounds, and compositions for treating, preventing, ameliorating, or slowing progression of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), such as autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP) by administering a P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor to a subject. The present embodiments provided herein are directed to compounds and compositions useful for treating, preventing, ameliorating, or slowing progression of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), such as autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP). In certain embodiments, P23H rhodopsin inhibitors provided herein are allele-specific antisense compounds targeted to a P23H mutant allele that are capable of selectively inhibiting expression of P23H rhodopsin mutant protein to a greater extent than wild-type protein. In certain embodiments, administration of the allele specific antisense compounds in a subject having AdRP results in selective inhibition of P23H rhodopsin and allows the normal protein produced from the wild-type allele to maintain rod survival and function in the subject.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The present application is being filed along with a Sequence Listing inelectronic format. The Sequence Listing is provided as a file entitledBIOL0267WOSEQ_ST25.txt created Feb. 26, 2016, which is 60 kb in size.The information in the electronic format of the sequence listing isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present embodiments provide methods, compounds, and compositions fortreating, preventing, ameliorating, or slowing progression of retinitispigmentosa (RP), such as autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP)by administering a P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor to a subject.

BACKGROUND

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a broad description for pigment changesand/or damage in the retina. A hereditary form of retinitis pigmentosacalled autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP) is a degenerativedisease that typically causes blindness by middle age. Bird A C,American journal of ophthalmology 1995; 119:543-562; Boughman J A et al.Am J Hum Genet 1980; 32:223-235; Schuster A et al. Br J Ophthalmol 2005;89:1258-1264. AdRP is caused by abnormalities of the photoreceptors(rods and cones) or the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the retinaleading to progressive sight loss. AdRP patients may experiencedefective light to dark, dark to light adaptation or night blindness asthe result of the degeneration of the peripheral visual field. AdRPresults in loss of photoreceptor (rods) cells from peripheral retina andthen cones from central retina.

Over 100 rhodopsin mutations have been identified in patients with AdRP.Sullivan L S et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2006; 47:3052-3064; Wang DY et al. Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinicalchemistry 2005; 351:5-16. The P23H mutation is the most prevalentmutation and is present in ˜25% of AdRP and 5-15% of RP cases. Dryja T Pet al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1991; 88:9370-9374. Mutant rhodopsinprotein such as P23H has a toxic gain-of-function that inducesmisfolding and disruption of normal rhodopsin protein, which leads tophotoreceptor cell apoptosis. Typically, rods degenerate first,affecting low light vision. Then, cones degenerate, affecting brightlight and color vision. The age of onset is variable with gradualprogressive reduction in night and peripheral vision, often leading to“gun-barrel” visual field or tunnel vision. Median age ofnight-blindness onset is 12-14 years old. Blindness is frequent inmiddle ages and most rod cells are lost by age 40.

SUMMARY

The present embodiments provided herein are directed to potent,tolerable, and/or selective compounds and compositions useful fortreating, preventing, ameliorating, or slowing progression of retinitispigmentosa (RP), such as autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP).In certain embodiments, P23H rhodopsin inhibitors provided herein areallele-specific antisense compounds targeted to a P23H mutant allelethat are capable of selectively inhibiting expression of P23H rhodopsinmutant protein to a greater extent than wild-type protein. In certainembodiments, administration of the allele-specific antisense compoundsin a subject having AdRP results in selective inhibition of P23Hrhodopsin and allows the normal protein produced from the wild-typeallele to maintain rod survival and function in the subject.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. Herein, the use ofthe singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise.As used herein, the use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise.Furthermore, the use of the term “including” as well as other forms,such as “includes” and “included”, is not limiting. Also, terms such as“element” or “component” encompass both elements and componentscomprising one unit and elements and components that comprise more thanone subunit, unless specifically stated otherwise.

The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes onlyand are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.All documents, or portions of documents, cited in this application,including, but not limited to, patents, patent applications, articles,books, and treatises, are hereby expressly incorporated by reference forthe portions of the document discussed herein, as well as in theirentirety.

It is understood that the sequence set forth in each SEQ ID NO in theexamples contained herein is independent of any modification to a sugarmoiety, an internucleoside linkage, or a nucleobase. As such, antisensecompounds defined by a SEQ ID NO may comprise, independently, one ormore modifications to a sugar moiety, an internucleoside linkage, or anucleobase. Antisense compounds described by ISIS number (ISIS #)indicate a combination of nucleobase sequence, chemical modification,and motif.

Unless otherwise indicated, the following terms have the followingmeanings:

“2′-O-methoxyethyl” (also 2′-MOE and 2′-O(CH₂)₂—OCH₃) refers to anO-methoxy-ethyl modification at the 2′ position of a sugar ring, e.g. afuranose ring. A 2′-O-methoxyethyl modified sugar is a modified sugar.

“2′-MOE nucleoside” (also 2′-O-methoxyethyl nucleoside) means anucleoside comprising a 2′-MOE modified sugar moiety.

“2′-substituted nucleoside” means a nucleoside comprising a substituentat the 2′-position of the furanosyl ring other than H or OH. In certainembodiments, 2′ substituted nucleosides include nucleosides withbicyclic sugar modifications.

“3′ target site” refers to the nucleotide of a target nucleic acid whichis complementary to the 3′-most nucleotide of a particular antisensecompound.

“5′ target site” refers to the nucleotide of a target nucleic acid whichis complementary to the 5′-most nucleotide of a particular antisensecompound.

“5-methylcytosine” means a cytosine modified with a methyl groupattached to the 5 position. A 5-methylcytosine is a modified nucleobase.

“About” means within ±10% of a value. For example, if it is stated, “thecompounds affected at least about 70% inhibition of P23H rhodopsin, itis implied that P23H rhodopsin levels are inhibited within a range of60% and 80%.

“Administration” or “administering” refers to routes of introducing anantisense compound provided herein to a subject to perform its intendedfunction. An example of a route of administration that can be usedincludes, but is not limited to intravitreal administration.

“Allele specific” with respect to an inhibitor refers to an inhibitor,such as an antisense compound, designed to hybridize to and/or inhibitexpression of a transcript from one allele of a gene to a greater extentthan the other allele of the gene.

“Amelioration” refers to a lessening of at least one indicator, sign, orsymptom of an associated disease, disorder, or condition. In certainembodiments, amelioration includes a delay or slowing in the progressionof one or more indicators of a condition or disease. The severity ofindicators may be determined by subjective or objective measures, whichare known to those skilled in the art.

“Animal” refers to a human or non-human animal, including, but notlimited to, mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, cats, pigs, and non-humanprimates, including, but not limited to, monkeys and chimpanzees.

“Antisense activity” means any detectable or measurable activityattributable to the hybridization of an antisense compound to its targetnucleic acid. In certain embodiments, antisense activity is a decreasein the amount or expression of a target nucleic acid or protein encodedby such target nucleic acid.

“Antisense compound” means an oligomeric compound that is capable ofundergoing hybridization to a target nucleic acid through hydrogenbonding. Examples of antisense compounds include single-stranded anddouble-stranded compounds, such as, antisense oligonucleotides, siRNAs,shRNAs, ssRNAs, and occupancy-based compounds.

“Antisense inhibition” means reduction of target nucleic acid levels inthe presence of an antisense compound complementary to a target nucleicacid compared to target nucleic acid levels in the absence of theantisense compound.

“Antisense mechanisms” are all those mechanisms involving hybridizationof a compound with target nucleic acid, wherein the outcome or effect ofthe hybridization is either target degradation or target occupancy withconcomitant stalling of the cellular machinery involving, for example,transcription or splicing.

“Antisense oligonucleotide” means a single-stranded oligonucleotidehaving a nucleobase sequence that permits hybridization to acorresponding region or segment of a target nucleic acid.

“Base complementarity” refers to the capacity for the precise basepairing of nucleobases of an antisense oligonucleotide withcorresponding nucleobases in a target nucleic acid (i.e.,hybridization), and is mediated by Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversedHoogsteen hydrogen binding between corresponding nucleobases.

“Bicyclic sugar moiety” means a modified sugar moiety comprising a 4 to7 membered ring (including but not limited to a furanosyl) comprising abridge connecting two atoms of the 4 to 7 membered ring to form a secondring, resulting in a bicyclic structure. In certain embodiments, the 4to 7 membered ring is a sugar ring. In certain embodiments the 4 to 7membered ring is a furanosyl. In certain such embodiments, the bridgeconnects the 2′-carbon and the 4′-carbon of the furanosyl.

“Cap structure” or “terminal cap moiety” means chemical modifications,which have been incorporated at either terminus of an antisensecompound.

“cEt” or “constrained ethyl” means a bicyclic sugar moiety comprising abridge connecting the 4′-carbon and the 2′-carbon, wherein the bridgehas the formula: 4′-CH(CH₃)—O-2′.

“Constrained ethyl nucleoside” (also cEt nucleoside) means a nucleosidecomprising a bicyclic sugar moiety comprising a 4′-CH(CH₃)—O-2′ bridge.

“P23H rhodopsin” means any nucleic acid or protein of P23H rhodopsin.“P23H rhodopsin nucleic acid” means any nucleic acid encoding P23Hrhodopsin. For example, in certain embodiments, a P23H rhodopsin nucleicacid includes a DNA sequence encoding P23H rhodopsin, an RNA sequencetranscribed from DNA encoding P23H rhodopsin (including genomic DNAcomprising introns and exons), and an mRNA sequence encoding P23Hrhodopsin. “P23H rhodopsin mRNA” means an mRNA encoding a P23H rhodopsinprotein.

“P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor” refers to any agent capable ofspecifically inhibiting P23H rhodopsin RNA and/or P23H rhodopsin proteinexpression or activity at the molecular level. For example, P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitors include nucleic acids (including antisensecompounds), peptides, antibodies, small molecules, and other agentscapable of inhibiting the expression of P23H rhodopsin RNA and/or P23Hrhodopsin protein.

“Chemically distinct region” refers to a region of an antisense compoundthat is in some way chemically different than another region of the sameantisense compound. For example, a region having 2′-O-methoxyethylnucleotides is chemically distinct from a region having nucleotideswithout 2′-O-methoxyethyl modifications.

“Chimeric antisense compounds” means antisense compounds that have atleast 2 chemically distinct regions, each position having a plurality ofsubunits.

“Complementarity” means the capacity for pairing between nucleobases ofa first nucleic acid and a second nucleic acid.

“Comprise,” “comprises” and “comprising” will be understood to imply theinclusion of a stated step or element or group of steps or elements butnot the exclusion of any other step or element or group of steps orelements.

“Contiguous nucleobases” means nucleobases immediately adjacent to eachother.

“Deoxyribonucleotide” means a nucleotide having a hydrogen at the 2′position of the sugar portion of the nucleotide. Deoxyribonucleotidesmay be modified with any of a variety of substituents.

“Designing” or “Designed to” refer to the process of designing anoligomeric compound that specifically hybridizes with a selected nucleicacid molecule.

“Effective amount” means the amount of active pharmaceutical agentsufficient to effectuate a desired physiological outcome in anindividual in need of the agent. The effective amount may vary amongindividuals depending on the health and physical condition of theindividual to be treated, the taxonomic group of the individuals to betreated, the formulation of the composition, assessment of theindividual's medical condition, and other relevant factors.

“Efficacy” means the ability to produce a desired effect.

“Expression” includes all the functions by which a gene's codedinformation is converted into structures present and operating in acell. Such structures include, but are not limited to the products oftranscription and translation.

“Fully complementary” or “100% complementary” means each nucleobase of afirst nucleic acid has a complementary nucleobase in a second nucleicacid. In certain embodiments, a first nucleic acid is an antisensecompound and a target nucleic acid is a second nucleic acid.

“Gapmer” means a chimeric antisense compound in which an internal regionhaving a plurality of nucleosides that support RNase H cleavage ispositioned between external regions having one or more nucleosides,wherein the nucleosides comprising the internal region are chemicallydistinct from the nucleoside or nucleosides comprising the externalregions. The internal region may be referred to as the “gap” and theexternal regions may be referred to as the “wings.”

“Hybridization” means the annealing of complementary nucleic acidmolecules. In certain embodiments, complementary nucleic acid moleculesinclude, but are not limited to, an antisense compound and a nucleicacid target. In certain embodiments, complementary nucleic acidmolecules include, but are not limited to, an antisense oligonucleotideand a nucleic acid target.

“Identifying an animal having, or at risk for having, a disease,disorder and/or condition” means identifying an animal having beendiagnosed with the disease, disorder and/or condition or identifying ananimal predisposed to develop the disease, disorder and/or condition.Such identification may be accomplished by any method includingevaluating an individual's medical history and standard clinical testsor assessments.

“Immediately adjacent” means there are no intervening elements betweenthe immediately adjacent elements.

“Individual” means a human or non-human animal selected for treatment ortherapy.

“Inhibiting the expression or activity” refers to a reduction, blockadeof the expression or activity and does not necessarily indicate a totalelimination of expression or activity.

“Internucleoside linkage” refers to the chemical bond betweennucleosides.

“Lengthened” antisense oligonucleotides are those that have one or moreadditional nucleosides relative to an antisense oligonucleotidedisclosed herein.

“Linked deoxynucleoside” means a nucleic acid base (A, G, C, T, U)substituted by deoxyribose linked by a phosphate ester to form anucleotide.

“Linked nucleosides” means adjacent nucleosides linked together by aninternucleoside linkage.

“Mismatch” or “non-complementary nucleobase” refers to the case when anucleobase of a first nucleic acid is not capable of pairing with thecorresponding nucleobase of a second or target nucleic acid.

“Modified internucleoside linkage” refers to a substitution or anychange from a naturally occurring internucleoside bond (i.e. aphosphodiester internucleoside bond).

“Modified nucleobase” means any nucleobase other than adenine, cytosine,guanine, thymidine, or uracil. An “unmodified nucleobase” means thepurine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine basesthymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil (U).

“Modified nucleoside” means a nucleoside having, independently, amodified sugar moiety and/or modified nucleobase.

“Modified nucleotide” means a nucleotide having, independently, amodified sugar moiety, modified internucleoside linkage, or modifiednucleobase.

“Modified oligonucleotide” means an oligonucleotide comprising at leastone modified internucleoside linkage, a modified sugar, and/or amodified nucleobase.

“Modified sugar” means substitution and/or any change from a naturalsugar moiety.

“Modulating” refers to changing or adjusting a feature in a cell,tissue, organ or organism. For example, modulating P23H rhodopsin mRNAcan mean to increase or decrease the level of P23H rhodopsin mRNA and/orP23H rhodopsin protein in a cell, tissue, organ or organism. A“modulator” effects the change in the cell, tissue, organ or organism.For example, a P23H rhodopsin antisense compound can be a modulator thatdecreases the amount of P23H rhodopsin mRNA and/or P23H rhodopsinprotein in a cell, tissue, organ or organism.

“Monomer” refers to a single unit of an oligomer. Monomers include, butare not limited to, nucleosides and nucleotides, whether naturallyoccuring or modified.

“Motif” means the pattern of unmodified and modified nucleosides in anantisense compound.

“Natural sugar moiety” means a sugar moiety found in DNA (2′-H) or RNA(2′-OH).

“Naturally occurring internucleoside linkage” means a 3′ to 5′phosphodiester linkage.

“Non-complementary nucleobase” refers to a pair of nucleobases that donot form hydrogen bonds with one another or otherwise supporthybridization.

“Nucleic acid” refers to molecules composed of monomeric nucleotides. Anucleic acid includes, but is not limited to, ribonucleic acids (RNA),deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA), single-stranded nucleic acids, anddouble-stranded nucleic acids.

“Nucleobase” means a heterocyclic moiety capable of pairing with a baseof another nucleic acid.

“Nucleobase complementarity” refers to a nucleobase that is capable ofbase pairing with another nucleobase. For example, in DNA, adenine (A)is complementary to thymine (T). For example, in RNA, adenine (A) iscomplementary to uracil (U). In certain embodiments, complementarynucleobase refers to a nucleobase of an antisense compound that iscapable of base pairing with a nucleobase of its target nucleic acid.For example, if a nucleobase at a certain position of an antisensecompound is capable of hydrogen bonding with a nucleobase at a certainposition of a target nucleic acid, then the position of hydrogen bondingbetween the oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid is considered tobe complementary at that nucleobase pair.

“Nucleobase sequence” means the order of contiguous nucleobasesindependent of any sugar, linkage, and/or nucleobase modification.

“Nucleoside” means a nucleobase linked to a sugar.

“Nucleoside mimetic” includes those structures used to replace the sugaror the sugar and the base and not necessarily the linkage at one or morepositions of an oligomeric compound such as for example nucleosidemimetics having morpholino, cyclohexenyl, cyclohexyl, tetrahydropyranyl,bicyclo or tricyclo sugar mimetics, e.g., non furanose sugar units.Nucleotide mimetic includes those structures used to replace thenucleoside and the linkage at one or more positions of an oligomericcompound such as for example peptide nucleic acids or morpholinos(morpholinos linked by —N(H)—C(═O)—O— or other non-phosphodiesterlinkage). Sugar surrogate overlaps with the slightly broader termnucleoside mimetic but is intended to indicate replacement of the sugarunit (furanose ring) only. The tetrahydropyranyl rings provided hereinare illustrative of an example of a sugar surrogate wherein the furanosesugar group has been replaced with a tetrahydropyranyl ring system.“Mimetic” refers to groups that are substituted for a sugar, anucleobase, and/or internucleoside linkage. Generally, a mimetic is usedin place of the sugar or sugar-internucleoside linkage combination, andthe nucleobase is maintained for hybridization to a selected target.

“Nucleotide” means a nucleoside having a phosphate group covalentlylinked to the sugar portion of the nucleoside.

“Oligomeric compound” means a polymer of linked monomeric subunits whichis capable of hybridizing to at least a region of a nucleic acidmolecule.

“Oligonucleoside” means an oligonucleotide in which the internucleosidelinkages do not contain a phosphorus atom.

“Oligonucleotide” means a polymer of linked nucleosides each of whichcan be modified or unmodified, independent one from another.

“Pharmaceutical composition” means a mixture of substances suitable foradministering to an individual. For example, a pharmaceuticalcomposition may comprise one or more active pharmaceutical agents and asterile aqueous solution.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable salts” means physiologically andpharmaceutically acceptable salts of antisense compounds, i.e., saltsthat retain the desired biological activity of the parentoligonucleotide and do not impart undesired toxicological effectsthereto.

“Phosphorothioate linkage” means a linkage between nucleosides where thephosphodiester bond is modified by replacing one of the non-bridgingoxygen atoms with a sulfur atom. A phosphorothioate linkage is amodified internucleoside linkage.

“Portion” means a defined number of contiguous (i.e., linked)nucleobases of a nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, a portion is adefined number of contiguous nucleobases of a target nucleic acid. Incertain embodiments, a portion is a defined number of contiguousnucleobases of an antisense compound

“Prevent” refers to delaying or forestalling the onset, development orprogression of a disease, disorder, or condition for a period of timefrom minutes to indefinitely. Prevent also means reducing the risk ofdeveloping a disease, disorder, or condition.

“Prophylactically effective amount” refers to an amount of apharmaceutical agent that provides a prophylactic or preventativebenefit to an animal.

“Region” is defined as a portion of the target nucleic acid having atleast one identifiable structure, function, or characteristic.

“Ribonucleotide” means a nucleotide having a hydroxy at the 2′ positionof the sugar portion of the nucleotide. Ribonucleotides may be modifiedwith any of a variety of substituents.

“Segments” are defined as smaller or sub-portions of regions within atarget nucleic acid.

“Selective” with respect to an effect refers to a greater effect on onething over another by any quantitative extent or fold-difference. Forexample, an antisense compound that is “selective” for P23H rhodopsin or“selectively” targets or inhibits P23H rhodopsin, reduces expression ofthe P23H rhodopsin allele to a greater extent than the wild-type allele.

“Side effects” means physiological disease and/or conditionsattributable to a treatment other than the desired effects. In certainembodiments, side effects include injection site reactions, liverfunction test abnormalities, renal function abnormalities, livertoxicity, renal toxicity, central nervous system abnormalities,myopathies, and malaise. For example, increased aminotransferase levelsin serum may indicate liver toxicity or liver function abnormality. Forexample, increased bilirubin may indicate liver toxicity or liverfunction abnormality.

“Sites,” as used herein, are defined as unique nucleobase positionswithin a target nucleic acid.

“Slows progression” means decrease in the development of the saiddisease.

“Specifically hybridizable” refers to an antisense compound having asufficient degree of complementarity between an antisenseoligonucleotide and a target nucleic acid to induce a desired effect,while exhibiting minimal or no effects on non-target nucleic acids underconditions in which specific binding is desired, i.e., underphysiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays and therapeutictreatments. “Stringent hybridization conditions” or “stringentconditions” refer to conditions under which an oligomeric compound willhybridize to its target sequence, but to a minimal number of othersequences.

“Specifically inhibit” a target nucleic acid means to reduce or blockexpression of the target nucleic acid while exhibiting fewer, minimal,or no effects on non-target nucleic acids and does not necessarilyindicate a total elimination of the target nucleic acid's expression.

“Subject” means a human or non-human animal selected for treatment ortherapy.

“Target” refers to a protein, the modulation of which is desired.

“Target gene” refers to a gene encoding a target.

“Targeting” means the process of design and selection of an antisensecompound that will specifically hybridize to a target nucleic acid andinduce a desired effect.

“Target nucleic acid,” “target RNA,” “target RNA transcript” and“nucleic acid target” all mean a nucleic acid capable of being targetedby antisense compounds.

“Target region” means a portion of a target nucleic acid to which one ormore antisense compounds is targeted.

“Target segment” means the sequence of nucleotides of a target nucleicacid to which an antisense compound is targeted. “5′ target site” refersto the 5′-most nucleotide of a target segment. “3′ target site” refersto the 3′-most nucleotide of a target segment.

“Therapeutically effective amount” means an amount of a pharmaceuticalagent that provides a therapeutic benefit to an individual.

“Treat” refers to administering a pharmaceutical composition to ananimal in order to effect an alteration or improvement of a disease,disorder, or condition in the animal. In certain embodiments, one ormore pharmaceutical compositions can be administered to the animal.

“Unmodified” nucleobases mean the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine(G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil (U).

“Unmodified nucleotide” means a nucleotide composed of naturallyoccuring nucleobases, sugar moieties, and internucleoside linkages. Incertain embodiments, an unmodified nucleotide is an RNA nucleotide (i.e.β-D-ribonucleosides) or a DNA nucleotide (i.e. β-D-deoxyribonucleoside).

CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Certain embodiments provide methods, compounds and compositions forinhibiting or selectively inhibiting P23H rhodopsin expression.

Certain embodiments provide antisense compounds targeted to a P23Hrhodopsin nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, the human mutant P23Hrhodopsin nucleic acid has a C to A substitution at nucleotide 163 ofGENBANK Accession No. NM_000539.3 and is incorporated herein as SEQ IDNO: 2. In certain embodiments, the human mutant P23H rhodopsin nucleicacid has a C to A substitution in codon 23 (exon 1) of a human rhodopsingene having the sequence of GENBANK Accession No. NM_000539.3. Incertain embodiments, the antisense compound is a single-strandedoligonucleotide.

Certain embodiments provide an antisense compound comprising a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having anucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of anyof the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certainembodiments, the antisense compound is a single-strandedoligonucleotide.

Certain embodiments provide an antisense compound comprising a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having anucleobase sequence comprising at least 9 contiguous nucleobases of anyof the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certainembodiments, the antisense compound is a single-strandedoligonucleotide.

Certain embodiments provide an antisense compound comprising a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having anucleobase sequence comprising at least 10 contiguous nucleobases of anyof the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certainembodiments, the antisense compound is a single-strandedoligonucleotide.

Certain embodiments provide an antisense compound comprising a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having anucleobase sequence comprising at least 11 contiguous nucleobases of anyof the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certainembodiments, the antisense compound is a single-strandedoligonucleotide.

Certain embodiments provide an antisense compound comprising a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having anucleobase sequence comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleobases of anyof the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certainembodiments, the antisense compound is a single-strandedoligonucleotide.

Certain embodiments provide an antisense compound comprising a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having anucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, the antisense compound is asingle-stranded oligonucleotide.

Certain embodiments provide an antisense compound comprising a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, the antisense compound is asingle-stranded oligonucleotide.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 8 to 80 linked nucleosides having at leastan 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 contiguous nucleobase portioncomplementary to an equal length portion within nucleotides 157-174,157-174, 157-171, 157-172, or 159-174 of SEQ ID NO: 2.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 8 to 80 linked nucleosides complementary withinnucleotides 157-174, 157-171, 157-172, or 159-174 of SEQ ID NO: 2.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides complementarywithin nucleotides 157-174, 157-174, 157-174, 157-171, 157-172, or159-174 of SEQ ID NO: 2.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 8 to 80 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising at least an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,or 16 contiguous nucleobase portion any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29,or 64.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having a nucleobase sequencecomprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs:15, 21, 29, or 64.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having a nucleobase sequencecomprising at least 9 contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs:15, 21, 29, or 64.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having a nucleobase sequencecomprising at least 10 contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs:15, 21, 29, or 64.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having a nucleobase sequencecomprising at least 11 contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs:15, 21, 29, or 64.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having a nucleobase sequencecomprising at least 12 contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs:15, 21, 29, or 64.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one ofSEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64.

In certain embodiments, a modified oligonucleotide targeted to P23Hrhodopsin is ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS 664867, or ISIS 664884. Outof over 400 antisense oligonucleotides that were screened as describedin the Examples section below, ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS 664867,and ISIS 664884 emerged as the top lead compounds. In particular, ISIS664844 exhibited the best combination of properties in terms of potency,tolerability, and selectivity for P23H rhodopsin out of over 400antisense oligonucleotides.

In certain embodiments, any of the foregoing compounds oroligonucleotides comprises at least one modified internucleosidelinkage, at least one modified sugar, and/or at least one modifiednucleobase.

In certain embodiments, any of the foregoing compounds oroligonucleotides comprises at least one modified sugar. In certainembodiments, at least one modified sugar comprises a 2′-O-methoxyethylgroup. In certain embodiments, at least one modified sugar is a bicyclicsugar, such as a 4′-CH(CH₃)—O-2′ group, a 4′-CH₂—O-2′ group, or a4′-(CH₂)₂—O-2′group.

In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide comprises at leastone modified internucleoside linkage, such as a phosphorothioateinternucleoside linkage.

In certain embodiments, any of the foregoing compounds oroligonucleotides comprises at least one modified nucleobase, such as5-methylcytosine.

In certain embodiments, any of the foregoing compounds oroligonucleotides comprises:

-   -   a gap segment consisting of linked deoxynucleosides;    -   a 5′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides; and    -   a 3′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment and wherein each nucleoside of each wing segmentcomprises a modified sugar. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotideconsists of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having a nucleobase sequencecomprising the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 15, 44, or 52.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64, wherein themodified oligonucleotide comprises:

-   -   a gap segment consisting of linked deoxynucleosides;    -   a 5′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides; and    -   a 3′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment and wherein each nucleoside of each wing segmentcomprises a modified sugar.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64,wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises:

-   -   a gap segment consisting of linked deoxynucleosides;    -   a 5′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides; and    -   a 3′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment and wherein each nucleoside of each wing segmentcomprises a modified sugar.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 15,wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of each wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is aphosphorothioate linkage; and wherein each cytosine is a5-methylcytosine.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 linked nucleosides having a nucleobasesequence consisting of the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 15, whereinthe modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of each wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is aphosphorothioate linkage; and wherein each cytosine is a5-methylcytosine.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 64,wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of nine linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of four linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein the 5′ wing segment comprises a cEt sugar,a cEt sugar, a cEt sugar, and a 2′-flouro sugar in the 5′ to 3′direction; wherein each nucleoside of the 3′ wing segment comprises acEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioatelinkage; and wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 linked nucleosides having a nucleobasesequence consisting of the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 64, whereinthe modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of nine linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of four linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein the 5′ wing segment comprises a cEt sugar,a cEt sugar, a cEt sugar, and a 2′-flouro sugar in the 5′ to 3′direction; wherein each nucleoside of the 3′ wing segment comprises acEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioatelinkage; and wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 21,wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of two linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of four linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of the 5′ wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein the 3′ wing segment comprises a cEtsugar, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar, a cEt sugar, and a 2′-O-methoxyethylsugar in the 5′ to 3′ direction; wherein each internucleoside linkage isa phosphorothioate linkage; and wherein each cytosine is a5-methylcytosine.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 linked nucleosides having a nucleobasesequence consisting of the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 21, whereinthe modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of two linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of four linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of the 5′ wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein the 3′ wing segment comprises a cEtsugar, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar, a cEt sugar, and a 2′-O-methoxyethylsugar in the 5′ to 3′ direction; wherein each internucleoside linkage isa phosphorothioate linkage; and wherein each cytosine is a5-methylcytosine.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 15 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 29,wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of two linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of the 5′ wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein the 3′ wing segment comprises a cEtsugar, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar, and a cEt sugar in the 5′ to 3′direction; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioatelinkage; and wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 15 linked nucleosides having a nucleobasesequence consisting of the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 29, whereinthe modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of two linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of the 5′ wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein the 3′ wing segment comprises a cEtsugar, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar, and a cEt sugar in the 5′ to 3′direction; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioatelinkage; and wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound or oligonucleotide canbe at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99%,or 100% complementary to a nucleic acid encoding P23H rhodopsin.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the antisense compound can be asingle-stranded oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the compoundcomprises deoxyribonucleotides.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the antisense compound can bedouble-stranded. In certain embodiments, a compound comprisesribonucleotides.

In certain embodiments, compounds are capable of selectively targetingor inhibiting expression of the Rhodopsin P23H mutant allele. In certainembodiments, compounds have at least about a 2-fold, 3-fold, 4-fold,5-fold, 6-fold, 7-fold, 8-fold, 9-fold, 10-fold, 11-fold, 12-fold,13-fold, 14-fold, 15-fold, 16-fold, 17-fold, 18-fold, 19-fold, or20-fold selectivity for inhibiting expression of the Rhodopsin P23Hmutant allele over the wild-type allele.

In certain embodiments, compounds or compositions provided hereincomprise a salt of the modified oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments,the salt is a sodium salt. In certain embodiments, the salt is apotassium salt.

Certain embodiments provide a composition comprising the compound of anyof the aforementioned embodiments or salt thereof and at least one of apharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. In certain embodiments,the composition has a viscosity less than about 40 centipoise (cP), lessthan about 30 centipose (cP), less than about 20 centipose (cP), lessthan about 15 centipose (cP), or less than about 10 centipose (cP). Incertain embodiments, the composition having any of the aforementionedviscosities comprises a compound provided herein at a concentration ofabout 100 mg/mL, about 125 mg/mL, about 150 mg/mL, about 175 mg/mL,about 200 mg/mL, about 225 mg/mL, about 250 mg/mL, about 275 mg/mL, orabout 300 mg/mL. In certain embodiments, the composition having any ofthe aforementioned viscosities and/or compound concentrations has atemperature of room temperature or about 20° C., about 21° C., about 22°C., about 23° C., about 24° C., about 25° C., about 26° C., about 27°C., about 28° C., about 29° C., or about 30° C.

Certain Indications

Certain embodiments provided herein relate to methods of treating,preventing, ameliorating, or slowing progression of a disease associatedwith P23H rhodopsin in a subject by administration of a P23H rhodopsinspecific inhibitor, such as an antisense compound targeted to P23Hrhodopsin. In certain embodiments, the inhibitor is allele-specific forP23H Rhodospin and selectively inhibits expression of P23H rhodopsinover wild-type rhodopsin. Examples of diseases associated with P23Hrhodopsin treatable, preventable, and/or ameliorable with the methodsprovided herein include retinitis pigmentosa (RP), such as autosomaldominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP).

In certain embodiments, a method of treating, preventing, ameliorating,or slowing progression of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or autosomaldominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP) in a subject comprisesadministering to the subject a P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor,thereby treating, preventing, ameliorating, or slowing progression ofretinitis pigmentosa (RP) or autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa(AdRP) in the subject. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsinspecific inhibitor is an antisense compound targeted to P23H rhodopsin,such as an antisense oligonucleotide targeted to P23H rhodopsin. Incertain embodiments, the antisense compound is allele-specific for P23HRhodospin and selectively inhibits expression of P23H rhodopsin overwild-type rhodopsin. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 8 to 80 linked nucleosides complementarywithin nucleotides 157-174, 157-171, 157-172, or 159-174 of SEQ ID NO:2. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is acompound comprising or consisting of a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having a nucleobasesequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of thenucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, theP23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisense compound comprising orconsisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linkednucleosides and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobasesequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, theP23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisense compound comprising orconsisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobasesequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, theP23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisense compound comprising orconsisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linkednucleosides having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8, 9, 10,11, or 12 contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29,or 64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor isan antisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64.In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one ofSEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. In certain embodiments, the P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitor is ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS 664867,or ISIS 664884. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the antisensecompound can be a single-stranded oligonucleotide. In certainembodiments, the antisense compound is administered to the subject byintravitreally such as by intravitreal injection. In certainembodiments, administering the antisense compound improves, preserves,or prevents worsening of visual function; visual field; photoreceptorcell function; electroretinogram (ERG) response such as full field ERGmeasuring retina wide function, dark adapted ERG measuring scotopic rodfunction, or light adapted ERG measuring photopic cone function; visualacuity; and/or vision-related quality of life. In certain embodiments,administering the antisense compound inhibits, prevents, or delaysprogression of photoreceptor cell loss and/or deterioration of theretina outer nuclear layer (ONL). In certain embodiments, the subject isidentified as having the P23H rhodopsin mutant allele.

In certain embodiments, a method of inhibiting expression of P23Hrhodopsin in a subject having a P23H rhodopsin mutant allele comprisesadministering a P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor to the subject,thereby inhibiting expression of P23H rhodopsin in the subject. Incertain embodiments, administering the inhibitor inhibits expression ofP23H rhodopsin in the eye, retina, peripheral retina, rodphotoreceptors, and/or cones. In certain embodiments, the subject has,or is at risk of having retinitis pigmentosa (RP), such as autosomaldominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP). In certain embodiments, the P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisense compound allele-specificfor P23H Rhodospin that selectively inhibits expression of P23Hrhodopsin over wild-type rhodopsin. In certain embodiments, the P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitor is a compound comprising or consisting of amodified oligonucleotide consisting of 8 to 80 linked nucleosidescomplementary within nucleotides 157-174, 157-171, 157-172, or 159-174of SEQ ID NO: 2. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having anucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of anyof the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certainembodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisensecompound comprising or consisting of a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having a nucleobasesequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor isan antisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is an antisense compound comprising or consisting of amodified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosideshaving a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. Incertain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64.In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one ofSEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. In certain embodiments, the P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitor is ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS 664867,or ISIS 664884. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the antisensecompound can be a single-stranded oligonucleotide. In certainembodiments, the antisense compound is administered to the subject byintravitreally such as by intravitreal injection.

In certain embodiments, a method of improving or preserving visualfunction, visual field, photoreceptor cell function, ERG response, orvisual acuity in a subject having a P23H rhodopsin mutant allele orhaving retinitis pigmentosa (RP), such as autosomal dominant retinitispigmentosa (AdRP), comprises administering a P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor to the subject. In certain embodiments, a method ofinhibiting, preventing, or delaying progression of photoreceptor cellloss and/or deterioration of the retina outer nuclear layer (ONL) in asubject having a P23H rhodopsin mutant allele or having retinitispigmentosa (RP), such as autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP),comprises administering a P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor to thesubject. In certain embodiments, the inhibitor is an antisense compoundtargeted to P23H rhodopsin. In certain embodiments, the antisensecompound is allele-specific for P23H Rhodospin and selectively inhibitsexpression of P23H rhodopsin over wild-type rhodopsin. In certainembodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is a compoundcomprising or consisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 8to 80 linked nucleosides complementary within nucleotides 157-174,157-171, 157-172, or 159-174 of SEQ ID NO: 2. In certain embodiments,the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is a compound comprising orconsisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linkednucleosides and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs:11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor isan antisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having anucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is an antisense compound comprising or consisting of amodified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of anyone of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsinspecific inhibitor is an antisense compound comprising or consisting ofa modified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosideshaving a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. Incertain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64.In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one ofSEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. In certain embodiments, the P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitor is ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS 664867,or ISIS 664884. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the antisensecompound can be a single-stranded oligonucleotide. In certainembodiments, the antisense compound is administered to the subject byintravitreally such as by intravitreal injection.

In certain embodiments, a method of inhibiting expression of P23Hrhodopsin in a cell comprises contacting the cell with a P23H rhodopsinspecific inhibitor to the subject. In certain embodiments, the cell is arod photoreceptor cell or cone cell. In certain embodiments, the cell isin the eye of a subject. In certain embodiments, the cell is in theretina of the eye. In certain embodiments, the inhibitor is an antisensecompound targeted to P23H rhodopsin. In certain embodiments, theantisense compound is allele-specific for P23H Rhodospin and selectivelyinhibits expression of P23H rhodopsin over wild-type rhodopsin. Incertain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is a compoundcomprising or consisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 8to 80 linked nucleosides complementary within nucleotides 157-174,157-171, 157-172, or 159-174 of SEQ ID NO: 2. In certain embodiments,the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is a compound comprising orconsisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linkednucleosides and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs:11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor isan antisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having anucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is an antisense compound comprising or consisting of amodified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of anyone of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsinspecific inhibitor is an antisense compound comprising or consisting ofa modified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosideshaving a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. Incertain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64.In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one ofSEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. In certain embodiments, the P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitor is ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS 664867,or ISIS 664884. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the antisensecompound can be a single-stranded oligonucleotide.

Certain embodiments are drawn to a P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor foruse in treating retinitis pigmentosa (RP), such as autosomal dominantretinitis pigmentosa (AdRP) associated with P23H rhodopsin. In certainembodiments, the inhibitor is an antisense compound targeted to P23Hrhodopsin. In certain embodiments, the antisense compound isallele-specific for P23H Rhodospin and selectively inhibits expressionof P23H rhodopsin over wild-type rhodopsin. In certain embodiments, theP23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is a compound comprising or consistingof a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 8 to 80 linked nucleosidescomplementary within nucleotides 157-174, 157-171, 157-172, or 159-174of SEQ ID NO: 2. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having anucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of anyof the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certainembodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisensecompound comprising or consisting of a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having a nucleobasesequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor isan antisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is an antisense compound comprising or consisting of amodified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosideshaving a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. Incertain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64.In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one ofSEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. In certain embodiments, the P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitor is ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS 664867,or ISIS 664884. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the antisensecompound can be a single-stranded oligonucleotide.

Certain embodiments are drawn to a P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor foruse in improving or preserving visual function, visual field,photoreceptor cell function, ERG response, visual acuity, and/orvision-related quality of life of a subject having retinitis pigmentosa(RP), such as autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP) associatedwith P23H rhodopsin. Certain embodiments are drawn to a P23H rhodopsinspecific inhibitor for use in inhibiting, preventing, or delayingprogression of photoreceptor cell loss and/or deterioration of theretina outer nuclear layer (ONL) in a subject having retinitispigmentosa (RP), such as autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP)associated with P23H rhodopsin. In certain embodiments, the P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitor is a compound comprising or consisting of amodified oligonucleotide consisting of 8 to 80 linked nucleosidescomplementary within nucleotides 157-174, 157-171, 157-172, or 159-174of SEQ ID NO: 2. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having anucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of anyof the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certainembodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisensecompound comprising or consisting of a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having a nucleobasesequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor isan antisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is an antisense compound comprising or consisting of amodified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosideshaving a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. Incertain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64.In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one ofSEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. In certain embodiments, the P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitor is ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS 664867,or ISIS 664884. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the antisensecompound can be a single-stranded oligonucleotide.

Certain embodiments are drawn to use of a P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor for the manufacture of a medicament for treating retinitispigmentosa (RP), such as autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP)associated with P23H rhodopsin. In certain embodiments, the inhibitor isan antisense compound targeted to P23H rhodopsin. In certainembodiments, the antisense compound is allele-specific for P23HRhodospin and selectively inhibits expression of P23H rhodopsin overwild-type rhodopsin. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 8 to 80 linked nucleosides complementarywithin nucleotides 157-174, 157-171, 157-172, or 159-174 of SEQ ID NO:2. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is acompound comprising or consisting of a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having a nucleobasesequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of thenucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, theP23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisense compound comprising orconsisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linkednucleosides and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobasesequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, theP23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisense compound comprising orconsisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobasesequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, theP23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisense compound comprising orconsisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linkednucleosides having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8, 9, 10,11, or 12 contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29,or 64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor isan antisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64.In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one ofSEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. In certain embodiments, the P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitor is ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS 664867,or ISIS 664884. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the antisensecompound can be a single-stranded oligonucleotide.

Certain embodiments are drawn to use of a P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor for the manufacture of a medicament for improving orpreserving visual function, visual field, photoreceptor cell function,ERG response, visual acuity, and/or vision-related quality of life of asubject having retinitis pigmentosa (RP), such as autosomal dominantretinitis pigmentosa (AdRP) associated with P23H rhodopsin. Certainembodiments are drawn to use of a P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor forthe manufacture of a medicament for inhibiting, preventing, or delayingprogression of photoreceptor cell loss and/or deterioration of theretina outer nuclear layer (ONL) in a subject having retinitispigmentosa (RP), such as autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (AdRP)associated with P23H rhodopsin. In certain embodiments, the inhibitor isan antisense compound targeted to P23H rhodopsin. In certainembodiments, the antisense compound is allele-specific for P23HRhodospin and selectively inhibits expression of P23H rhodopsin overwild-type rhodopsin. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 8 to 80 linked nucleosides complementarywithin nucleotides 157-174, 157-171, 157-172, or 159-174 of SEQ ID NO:2. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is acompound comprising or consisting of a modified oligonucleotideconsisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides and having a nucleobasesequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of thenucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, theP23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisense compound comprising orconsisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linkednucleosides and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobasesequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, theP23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisense compound comprising orconsisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobasesequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64. In certain embodiments, theP23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is an antisense compound comprising orconsisting of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linkednucleosides having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8, 9, 10,11, or 12 contiguous nucleobases of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29,or 64. In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor isan antisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64.In certain embodiments, the P23H rhodopsin specific inhibitor is anantisense compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one ofSEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64. In certain embodiments, the P23Hrhodopsin specific inhibitor is ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS 664867,or ISIS 664884. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the antisensecompound can be a single-stranded oligonucleotide.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor can be an antisense compound targeted to P23H rhodopsin. Incertain embodiments, the antisense compound is an antisenseoligonucleotide, for example an antisense oligonucleotide consisting of8 to 80 linked nucleosides, 12 to 30 linked nucleosides, or 20 linkednucleosides. In certain embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide is atleast 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100% complementary to any of the nucleobasesequences recited in SEQ ID NOs: 1-4. In certain embodiments, theantisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modifiedinternucleoside linkage, at least one modified sugar and/or at least onemodified nucleobase. In certain embodiments, the modifiedinternucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage,the modified sugar is a bicyclic sugar or a 2′-O-methoxyethyl, and themodified nucleobase is a 5-methylcytosine. In certain embodiments, themodified oligonucleotide comprises a gap segment consisting of linkeddeoxynucleosides; a 5′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides;and a 3′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides, wherein the gapsegment is positioned immediately adjacent to and between the 5′ wingsegment and the 3′ wing segment and wherein each nucleoside of each wingsegment comprises a modified sugar. In certain embodiments, theantisense oligonucleotide is allele-specific for P23H Rhodospin andselectively inhibits expression of P23H rhodopsin over wild-typerhodopsin.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor can be a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 11-64, wherein themodified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment and wherein each nucleoside of each wing segmentcomprises a modified sugar.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor can be a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or 64,wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises:

-   -   a gap segment consisting of linked deoxynucleosides;    -   a 5′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides; and    -   a 3′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment and wherein each nucleoside of each wing segmentcomprises a modified sugar.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor can be a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 15,wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of each wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is aphosphorothioate linkage; and wherein each cytosine is a5-methylcytosine.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor can be a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 linked nucleosides having a nucleobasesequence consisting of the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 15, whereinthe modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of each wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is aphosphorothioate linkage; and wherein each cytosine is a5-methylcytosine.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor can be a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 64,wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of nine linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of four linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein the 5′ wing segment comprises a cEt sugar,a cEt sugar, a cEt sugar, and a 2′-flouro sugar in the 5′ to 3′direction; wherein each nucleoside of the 3′ wing segment comprises acEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioatelinkage; and wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor can be a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 linked nucleosides having a nucleobasesequence consisting of the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 64, whereinthe modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of nine linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of four linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein the 5′ wing segment comprises a cEt sugar,a cEt sugar, a cEt sugar, and a 2′-flouro sugar in the 5′ to 3′direction; wherein each nucleoside of the 3′ wing segment comprises acEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioatelinkage; and wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor can be a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 21,wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of two linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of four linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of the 5′ wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein the 3′ wing segment comprises a cEtsugar, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar, a cEt sugar, and a 2′-O-methoxyethylsugar in the 5′ to 3′ direction; wherein each internucleoside linkage isa phosphorothioate linkage; and wherein each cytosine is a5-methylcytosine.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor can be a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 16 linked nucleosides having a nucleobasesequence consisting of the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 21, whereinthe modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of two linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of four linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of the 5′ wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein the 3′ wing segment comprises a cEtsugar, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar, a cEt sugar, and a 2′-O-methoxyethylsugar in the 5′ to 3′ direction; wherein each internucleoside linkage isa phosphorothioate linkage; and wherein each cytosine is a5-methylcytosine.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor can be a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 15 to 30 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence comprising the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 29,wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of two linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of the 5′ wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein the 3′ wing segment comprises a cEtsugar, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar, and a cEt sugar in the 5′ to 3′direction; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioatelinkage; and wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor can be a compound comprising or consisting of a modifiedoligonucleotide consisting of 15 linked nucleosides having a nucleobasesequence consisting of the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 29, whereinthe modified oligonucleotide comprises:

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of two linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment andthe 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of the 5′ wing segmentcomprises a cEt sugar; wherein the 3′ wing segment comprises a cEtsugar, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar, and a cEt sugar in the 5′ to 3′direction; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioatelinkage; and wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the P23H rhodopsin specificinhibitor is administered intravitreally, such as by intravitrealinjection.

Antisense Compounds

Oligomeric compounds include, but are not limited to, oligonucleotides,oligonucleosides, oligonucleotide analogs, oligonucleotide mimetics,antisense compounds, antisense oligonucleotides, and siRNAs. Anoligomeric compound may be “antisense” to a target nucleic acid, meaningthat is is capable of undergoing hybridization to a target nucleic acidthrough hydrogen bonding.

In certain embodiments, an antisense compound has a nucleobase sequencethat, when written in the 5′ to 3′ direction, comprises the reversecomplement of the target segment of a target nucleic acid to which it istargeted.

In certain embodiments, an antisense compound is 10 to 30 subunits inlength. In certain embodiments, an antisense compound is 12 to 30subunits in length. In certain embodiments, an antisense compound is 12to 22 subunits in length. In certain embodiments, an antisense compoundis 14 to 30 subunits in length. In certain embodiments, an antisensecompound is 14 to 20 subunits in length. In certain embodiments, anantisense compound is 15 to 30 subunits in length. In certainembodiments, an antisense compound is 15 to 20 subunits in length. Incertain embodiments, an antisense compound is 16 to 30 subunits inlength. In certain embodiments, an antisense compound is 16 to 20subunits in length. In certain embodiments, an antisense compound is 17to 30 subunits in length. In certain embodiments, an antisense compoundis 17 to 20 subunits in length. In certain embodiments, an antisensecompound is 18 to 30 subunits in length. In certain embodiments, anantisense compound is 18 to 21 subunits in length. In certainembodiments, an antisense compound is 18 to 20 subunits in length. Incertain embodiments, an antisense compound is 20 to 30 subunits inlength. In other words, such antisense compounds are from 12 to 30linked subunits, 14 to 30 linked subunits, 14 to 20 subunits, 15 to 30subunits, 15 to 20 subunits, 16 to 30 subunits, 16 to 20 subunits, 17 to30 subunits, 17 to 20 subunits, 18 to 30 subunits, 18 to 20 subunits, 18to 21 subunits, 20 to 30 subunits, or 12 to 22 linked subunits,respectively. In certain embodiments, an antisense compound is 14subunits in length. In certain embodiments, an antisense compound is 16subunits in length. In certain embodiments, an antisense compound is 17subunits in length. In certain embodiments, an antisense compound is 18subunits in length. In certain embodiments, an antisense compound is 19subunits in length. In certain embodiments, an antisense compound is 20subunits in length. In other embodiments, the antisense compound is 8 to80, 12 to 50, 13 to 30, 13 to 50, 14 to 30, 14 to 50, 15 to 30, 15 to50, 16 to 30, 16 to 50, 17 to 30, 17 to 50, 18 to 22, 18 to 24, 18 to30, 18 to 50, 19 to 22, 19 to 30, 19 to 50, or 20 to 30 linked subunits.In certain such embodiments, the antisense compounds are 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47,48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65,66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, or 80 linkedsubunits in length, or a range defined by any two of the above values.In some embodiments the antisense compound is an antisenseoligonucleotide, and the linked subunits are nucleotides.

In certain embodiments antisense oligonucleotides may be shortened ortruncated. For example, a single subunit may be deleted from the 5′ end(5′ truncation), or alternatively from the 3′ end (3′ truncation). Ashortened or truncated antisense compound targeted to an P23H rhodopsinnucleic acid may have two subunits deleted from the 5′ end, oralternatively may have two subunits deleted from the 3′ end, of theantisense compound. Alternatively, the deleted nucleosides may bedispersed throughout the antisense compound, for example, in anantisense compound having one nucleoside deleted from the 5′ end and onenucleoside deleted from the 3′ end.

When a single additional subunit is present in a lengthened antisensecompound, the additional subunit may be located at the 5′ or 3′ end ofthe antisense compound. When two or more additional subunits arepresent, the added subunits may be adjacent to each other, for example,in an antisense compound having two subunits added to the 5′ end (5′addition), or alternatively to the 3′ end (3′ addition), of theantisense compound. Alternatively, the added subunits may be dispersedthroughout the antisense compound, for example, in an antisense compoundhaving one subunit added to the 5′ end and one subunit added to the 3′end.

It is possible to increase or decrease the length of an antisensecompound, such as an antisense oligonucleotide, and/or introducemismatch bases without eliminating activity. For example, in Woolf etal. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:7305-7309, 1992), a series ofantisense oligonucleotides 13-25 nucleobases in length were tested fortheir ability to induce cleavage of a target RNA in an oocyte injectionmodel. Antisense oligonucleotides 25 nucleobases in length with 8 or 11mismatch bases near the ends of the antisense oligonucleotides were ableto direct specific cleavage of the target mRNA, albeit to a lesserextent than the antisense oligonucleotides that contained no mismatches.Similarly, target specific cleavage was achieved using 13 nucleobaseantisense oligonucleotides, including those with 1 or 3 mismatches.

Gautschi et al. (J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 93:463-471, March 2001)demonstrated the ability of an oligonucleotide having 100%complementarity to the bcl-2 mRNA and having 3 mismatches to the bcl-xLmRNA to reduce the expression of both bcl-2 and bcl-xL in vitro and invivo. Furthermore, this oligonucleotide demonstrated potent anti-tumoractivity in vivo.

Maher and Dolnick (Nuc. Acid. Res. 16:3341-3358, 1988) tested a seriesof tandem 14 nucleobase antisense oligonucleotides, and a 28 and 42nucleobase antisense oligonucleotides comprised of the sequence of twoor three of the tandem antisense oligonucleotides, respectively, fortheir ability to arrest translation of human DHFR in a rabbitreticulocyte assay. Each of the three 14 nucleobase antisenseoligonucleotides alone was able to inhibit translation, albeit at a moremodest level than the 28 or 42 nucleobase antisense oligonucleotides.

Certain Antisense Compound Motifs and Mechanisms

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds have chemically modifiedsubunits arranged in patterns, or motifs, to confer to the antisensecompounds properties such as enhanced inhibitory activity, increasedbinding affinity for a target nucleic acid, or resistance to degradationby in vivo nucleases.

Chimeric antisense compounds typically contain at least one regionmodified so as to confer increased resistance to nuclease degradation,increased cellular uptake, increased binding affinity for the targetnucleic acid, and/or increased inhibitory activity. A second region of achimeric antisense compound may confer another desired property e.g.,serve as a substrate for the cellular endonuclease RNase H, whichcleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex.

Antisense activity may result from any mechanism involving thehybridization of the antisense compound (e.g., oligonucleotide) with atarget nucleic acid, wherein the hybridization ultimately results in abiological effect. In certain embodiments, the amount and/or activity ofthe target nucleic acid is modulated. In certain embodiments, the amountand/or activity of the target nucleic acid is reduced. In certainembodiments, hybridization of the antisense compound to the targetnucleic acid ultimately results in target nucleic acid degradation. Incertain embodiments, hybridization of the antisense compound to thetarget nucleic acid does not result in target nucleic acid degradation.In certain such embodiments, the presence of the antisense compoundhybridized with the target nucleic acid (occupancy) results in amodulation of antisense activity. In certain embodiments, antisensecompounds having a particular chemical motif or pattern of chemicalmodifications are particularly suited to exploit one or more mechanisms.In certain embodiments, antisense compounds function through more thanone mechanism and/or through mechanisms that have not been elucidated.Accordingly, the antisense compounds described herein are not limited byparticular mechanism.

Antisense mechanisms include, without limitation, RNase H mediatedantisense; RNAi mechanisms, which utilize the RISC pathway and include,without limitation, siRNA, ssRNA and microRNA mechanisms; and occupancybased mechanisms. Certain antisense compounds may act through more thanone such mechanism and/or through additional mechanisms.

RNase H-Mediated Antisense

In certain embodiments, antisense activity results at least in part fromdegradation of target RNA by RNase H. RNase H is a cellular endonucleasethat cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. It is known in the artthat single-stranded antisense compounds which are “DNA-like” elicitRNase H activity in mammalian cells. Accordingly, antisense compoundscomprising at least a portion of DNA or DNA-like nucleosides mayactivate RNase H, resulting in cleavage of the target nucleic acid. Incertain embodiments, antisense compounds that utilize RNase H compriseone or more modified nucleosides. In certain embodiments, such antisensecompounds comprise at least one block of 1-8 modified nucleosides. Incertain such embodiments, the modified nucleosides do not support RNaseH activity. In certain embodiments, such antisense compounds aregapmers, as described herein. In certain such embodiments, the gap ofthe gapmer comprises DNA nucleosides. In certain such embodiments, thegap of the gapmer comprises DNA-like nucleosides. In certain suchembodiments, the gap of the gapmer comprises DNA nucleosides andDNA-like nucleosides.

Certain antisense compounds having a gapmer motif are consideredchimeric antisense compounds. In a gapmer an internal region having aplurality of nucleotides that supports RNaseH cleavage is positionedbetween external regions having a plurality of nucleotides that arechemically distinct from the nucleosides of the internal region. In thecase of an antisense oligonucleotide having a gapmer motif, the gapsegment generally serves as the substrate for endonuclease cleavage,while the wing segments comprise modified nucleosides. In certainembodiments, the regions of a gapmer are differentiated by the types ofsugar moieties comprising each distinct region. The types of sugarmoieties that are used to differentiate the regions of a gapmer may insome embodiments include β-D-ribonucleosides, β-D-deoxyribonucleosides,2′-modified nucleosides (such 2′-modified nucleosides may include 2′-MOEand 2′-O—CH₃, among others), and bicyclic sugar modified nucleosides(such bicyclic sugar modified nucleosides may include those having aconstrained ethyl). In certain embodiments, nucleosides in the wings mayinclude several modified sugar moieties, including, for example 2′-MOEand bicyclic sugar moieties such as constrained ethyl or LNA. In certainembodiments, wings may include several modified and unmodified sugarmoieties. In certain embodiments, wings may include various combinationsof 2′-MOE nucleosides, bicyclic sugar moieties such as constrained ethylnucleosides or LNA nucleosides, and 2′-deoxynucleosides.

Each distinct region may comprise uniform sugar moieties, variant, oralternating sugar moieties. The wing-gap-wing motif is frequentlydescribed as “X-Y-Z”, where “X” represents the length of the 5′-wing,“Y” represents the length of the gap, and “Z” represents the length ofthe 3′-wing. “X” and “Z” may comprise uniform, variant, or alternatingsugar moieties. In certain embodiments, “X” and “Y” may include one ormore 2′-deoxynucleosides. “Y” may comprise 2′-deoxynucleosides. As usedherein, a gapmer described as “X—Y-Z” has a configuration such that thegap is positioned immediately adjacent to each of the 5′-wing and the 3′wing. Thus, no intervening nucleotides exist between the 5′-wing andgap, or the gap and the 3′-wing. Any of the antisense compoundsdescribed herein can have a gapmer motif. In certain embodiments, “X”and “Z” are the same; in other embodiments they are different. Incertain embodiments, “Y” is between 8 and 15 nucleosides. X, Y, or Z canbe any of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 25, 30 or more nucleosides.

In certain embodiments, the antisense compound targeted to a P23Hrhodopsin nucleic acid has a gapmer motif in which the gap consists of6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 linked nucleosides.

In certain embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide has a sugar motifdescribed by Formula A as follows:(J)_(m)-(B)_(n)-(J)_(p)-(B)_(r)-(A)_(t)-(D)_(g)-(A)_(v)-(B)_(w)-(J)_(x)-(B)_(y)-(J)_(z)

wherein:

each A is independently a 2′-substituted nucleoside;

each B is independently a bicyclic nucleoside;

each J is independently either a 2′-substituted nucleoside or a2′-deoxynucleoside;

each D is a 2′-deoxynucleoside;

m is 0-4; n is 0-2; p is 0-2; r is 0-2; t is 0-2; v is 0-2; w is 0-4; xis 0-2; y is 0-2; z is 0-4; g is 6-14;

provided that:

at least one of m, n, and r is other than 0;

at least one of w and y is other than 0;

the sum of m, n, p, r, and t is from 2 to 5; and

the sum of v, w, x, y, and z is from 2 to 5.

RNAi Compounds

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds are interfering RNAcompounds (RNAi), which include double-stranded RNA compounds (alsoreferred to as short-interfering RNA or siRNA) and single-stranded RNAicompounds (or ssRNA). Such compounds work at least in part through theRISC pathway to degrade and/or sequester a target nucleic acid (thus,include microRNA/microRNA-mimic compounds). In certain embodiments,antisense compounds comprise modifications that make them particularlysuited for such mechanisms.

i. ssRNA Compounds

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds including those particularlysuited for use as single-stranded RNAi compounds (ssRNA) comprise amodified 5′-terminal end. In certain such embodiments, the 5′-terminalend comprises a modified phosphate moiety. In certain embodiments, suchmodified phosphate is stabilized (e.g., resistant todegradation/cleavage compared to unmodified 5′-phosphate). In certainembodiments, such 5′-terminal nucleosides stabilize the 5′-phosphorousmoiety. Certain modified 5′-terminal nucleosides may be found in theart, for example in WO/2011/139702.

In certain embodiments, the 5′-nucleoside of an ssRNA compound hasFormula IIc:

wherein:

T₁ is an optionally protected phosphorus moiety;

T₂ is an internucleoside linking group linking the compound of FormulaIIc to the oligomeric compound;

A has one of the formulas:

Q₁ and Q₂ are each, independently, H, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substitutedC₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, substituted C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₂-C₆ alkenyl,substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkynyl orN(R₃)(R₄);

Q₃ is O, S, N(R₅) or C(R₆)(R₇);

each R₃, R₄ R₅, R₆ and R₇ is, independently, H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substitutedC₁-C₆ alkyl or C₁-C₆ alkoxy;

M₃ is O, S, NR₁₄, C(R₁₅)(R₁₆), C(R₁₅)(R₁₆)C(R₁₇)(R₁₈), C(R₁₅)═C(R₁₇),OC(R₁₅)(R₁₆) or OC(R₁₅)(Bx₂);

R₁₄ is H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy,substituted C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl,C₂-C₆ alkynyl or substituted C₂-C₆ alkynyl;

R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇ and R₁₈ are each, independently, H, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl,substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, substituted C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₂-C₆alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl or substituted C₂-C₆alkynyl;

Bx₁ is a heterocyclic base moiety;

or if Bx₂ is present then Bx₂ is a heterocyclic base moiety and Bx₁ isH, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy,substituted C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl,C₂-C₆ alkynyl or substituted C₂-C₆ alkynyl;

J₄, J₅, J₆ and J₇ are each, independently, H, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl,substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, substituted C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₂-C₆alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl or substituted C₂-C₆alkynyl;

or J₄ forms a bridge with one of J₅ or J₇ wherein said bridge comprisesfrom 1 to 3 linked biradical groups selected from O, S, NR₁₉,C(R₂₀)(R₂₁), C(R₂₀)═C(R₂₁), C[═C(R₂₀)(R₂₁)] and C(═O) and the other twoof J₅, J₆ and J₇ are each, independently, H, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl,substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, substituted C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₂-C₆alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl or substituted C₂-C₆alkynyl;

each R₁₉, R₂₀ and R₂₁ is, independently, H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substitutedC₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, substituted C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₂-C₆ alkenyl,substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl or substituted C₂-C₆ alkynyl;

G is H, OH, halogen or O—[C(R₈)(R₆)]_(n)—[(C═O)_(m)—X_(l)]_(j)—Z;

each R₈ and R₉ is, independently, H, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl or substitutedC₁-C₆ alkyl;

X₁ is O, S or N(E₁);

Z is H, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl,substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkynyl orN(E₂)(E₃);

E₁, E₂ and E₃ are each, independently, H, C₁-C₆ alkyl or substitutedC₁-C₆ alkyl;

n is from 1 to about 6;

m is 0 or 1;

j is 0 or 1;

each substituted group comprises one or more optionally protectedsubstituent groups independently selected from halogen, OJ₁, N(J₁)(J₂),=NJ₁, SJ₁, N₃, CN, OC(═X₂)J₁, OC(═X₂)N(J₁)(J₂) and C(═X₂)N(J₁)(J₂);

X₂ is O, S or NJ₃;

each J₁, J₂ and J₃ is, independently, H or C₁-C₆ alkyl;

when j is 1 then Z is other than halogen or N(E₂)(E₃); and

wherein said oligomeric compound comprises from 8 to 40 monomericsubunits and is hybridizable to at least a portion of a target nucleicacid.

In certain embodiments, M₃ is O, CH═CH, OCH₂ or OC(H)(Bx₂). In certainembodiments, M₃ is O.

In certain embodiments, J₄, J₅, J₆ and J₇ are each H. In certainembodiments, J₄ forms a bridge with one of J₅ or J₇.

In certain embodiments, A has one of the formulas:

wherein:

Q₁ and Q₂ are each, independently, H, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substitutedC₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy or substituted C₁-C₆ alkoxy. In certainembodiments, Q₁ and Q₂ are each H. In certain embodiments, Q₁ and Q₂ areeach, independently, H or halogen. In certain embodiments, Q₁ and Q₂ isH and the other of Q₁ and Q₂ is F, CH₃ or OCH₃.

In certain embodiments, T₁ has the formula:

wherein:

R_(a) and R_(c) are each, independently, protected hydroxyl, protectedthiol, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, substitutedC₁-C₆ alkoxy, protected amino or substituted amino; and

R_(b) is O or S. In certain embodiments, R_(b) is O and R_(a) and R_(c)are each, independently, OCH₃, OCH₂CH₃ or CH(CH₃)₂.

In certain embodiments, G is halogen, OCH₃, OCH₂F, OCHF₂, OCF₃, OCH₂CH₃,O(CH₂)₂F, OCH₂CHF₂, OCH₂CF₃, OCH₂—CH═CH₂, O(CH₂)₂—OCH₃, O(CH₂)₂—SCH₃,O(CH₂)₂—OCF₃, O(CH₂)₃—N(R₁₀)(R₁₁), O(CH₂)₂—ON(R₁₀)(R₁₁),O(CH₂)₂—O(CH₂)₂—N(R₁₀)(R₁₁), OCH₂C(═O)—N(R₁₀)(R₁₁),OCH₂C(═O)—N(R₁₂)—(CH₂)₂—N(R₁₀)(R₁₁) orO(CH₂)₂—N(R₁₂)—C(═NR₁₃)[N(R₁₀)(R₁)] wherein R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂ and R₁₃ areeach, independently, H or C₁-C₆ alkyl. In certain embodiments, G ishalogen, OCH₃, OCF₃, OCH₂CH₃, OCH₂CF₃, OCH₂—CH═CH₂, O(CH₂)₂—OCH₃,O(CH₂)₂−O(CH₂)₂−N(CH₃)₂, OCH₂C(═O)—N(H)CH₃,OCH₂C(═O)—N(H)—(CH₂)₂—N(CH₃)₂ or OCH₂—N(H)—C(═NH)NH₂. In certainembodiments, G is F, OCH₃ or O(CH₂)₂—OCH₃. In certain embodiments, G isO(CH₂)₂—OCH₃.

In certain embodiments, the 5′-terminal nucleoside has Formula He:

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds, including thoseparticularly suitable for ssRNA comprise one or more type of modifiedsugar moieties and/or naturally occurring sugar moieties arranged alongan oligonucleotide or region thereof in a defined pattern or sugarmodification motif. Such motifs may include any of the sugarmodifications discussed herein and/or other known sugar modifications.

In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotides comprise or consist of aregion having uniform sugar modifications. In certain such embodiments,each nucleoside of the region comprises the same RNA-like sugarmodification. In certain embodiments, each nucleoside of the region is a2′-F nucleoside. In certain embodiments, each nucleoside of the regionis a 2′-OMe nucleoside. In certain embodiments, each nucleoside of theregion is a 2′-MOE nucleoside. In certain embodiments, each nucleosideof the region is a cEt nucleoside. In certain embodiments, eachnucleoside of the region is an LNA nucleoside. In certain embodiments,the uniform region constitutes all or essentially all of theoligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the region constitutes theentire oligonucleotide except for 1-4 terminal nucleosides.

In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides comprise one or more regions ofalternating sugar modifications, wherein the nucleosides alternatebetween nucleotides having a sugar modification of a first type andnucleotides having a sugar modification of a second type. In certainembodiments, nucleosides of both types are RNA-like nucleosides. Incertain embodiments the alternating nucleosides are selected from:2′-OMe, 2′-F, 2′-MOE, LNA, and cEt. In certain embodiments, thealternating modifications are 2′-F and 2′-OMe. Such regions may becontiguous or may be interrupted by differently modified nucleosides orconjugated nucleosides.

In certain embodiments, the alternating region of alternatingmodifications each consist of a single nucleoside (i.e., the pattern is(AB)_(x)A_(y) wherein A is a nucleoside having a sugar modification of afirst type and B is a nucleoside having a sugar modification of a secondtype; x is 1-20 and y is 0 or 1). In certain embodiments, one or morealternating regions in an alternating motif includes more than a singlenucleoside of a type. For example, oligonucleotides may include one ormore regions of any of the following nucleoside motifs:

AABBAA; ABBABB; AABAAB; ABBABAABB; ABABAA; AABABAB; ABABAA;ABBAABBABABAA; BABBAABBABABAA; or ABABBAABBABABAA;

wherein A is a nucleoside of a first type and B is a nucleoside of asecond type. In certain embodiments, A and B are each selected from2′-F, 2′-OMe, BNA, and MOE.

In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides having such an alternatingmotif also comprise a modified 5′ terminal nucleoside, such as those offormula IIc or IIe.

In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides comprise a region having a2-2-3 motif. Such regions comprises the following motif:

-(A)₂-(B)_(x)-(A)₂-(C)_(y)-(A)₃-

wherein: A is a first type of modified nucleoside;

B and C, are nucleosides that are differently modified than A, however,B and C may have the same or different modifications as one another;

x and y are from 1 to 15.

In certain embodiments, A is a 2′-OMe modified nucleoside. In certainembodiments, B and C are both 2′-F modified nucleosides. In certainembodiments, A is a 2′-OMe modified nucleoside and B and C are both 2′-Fmodified nucleosides.

In certain embodiments, oligonucleosides have the following sugar motif:

5′-(Q)-(AB)_(x)A_(y)-(D)_(z)

wherein:

Q is a nucleoside comprising a stabilized phosphate moiety. In certainembodiments, Q is a nucleoside having Formula IIc or IIe;

A is a first type of modified nucleoside;

B is a second type of modified nucleoside;

D is a modified nucleoside comprising a modification different from thenucleoside adjacent to it. Thus, if y is 0, then D must be differentlymodified than B and if y is 1, then D must be differently modified thanA. In certain embodiments, D differs from both A and B.

X is 5-15;

Y is 0 or 1;

Z is 0-4.

In certain embodiments, oligonucleosides have the following sugar motif:

5′-(Q)-(A)_(x)-(D)_(z)

wherein:

Q is a nucleoside comprising a stabilized phosphate moiety. In certainembodiments, Q is a nucleoside having Formula IIc or IIe;

A is a first type of modified nucleoside;

D is a modified nucleoside comprising a modification different from A.

X is 11-30;

Z is 0-4.

In certain embodiments A, B, C, and D in the above motifs are selectedfrom: 2′-OMe, 2′-F, 2′-MOE, LNA, and cEt. In certain embodiments, Drepresents terminal nucleosides. In certain embodiments, such terminalnucleosides are not designed to hybridize to the target nucleic acid(though one or more might hybridize by chance). In certiain embodiments,the nucleobase of each D nucleoside is adenine, regardless of theidentity of the nucleobase at the corresponding position of the targetnucleic acid. In certain embodiments the nucleobase of each D nucleosideis thymine.

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds, including thoseparticularly suited for use as ssRNA comprise modified internucleosidelinkages arranged along the oligonucleotide or region thereof in adefined pattern or modified internucleoside linkage motif. In certainembodiments, oligonucleotides comprise a region having an alternatinginternucleoside linkage motif. In certain embodiments, oligonucleotidescomprise a region of uniformly modified internucleoside linkages. Incertain such embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises a region that isuniformly linked by phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. Incertain embodiments, the oligonucleotide is uniformly linked byphosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, eachinternucleoside linkage of the oligonucleotide is selected fromphosphodiester and phosphorothioate. In certain embodiments, eachinternucleoside linkage of the oligonucleotide is selected fromphosphodiester and phosphorothioate and at least one internucleosidelinkage is phosphorothioate.

In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least 6phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, theoligonucleotide comprises at least 8 phosphorothioate internucleosidelinkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least10 phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments,the oligonucleotide comprises at least one block of at least 6consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certainembodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least one block of atleast 8 consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. Incertain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least one block ofat least 10 consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. Incertain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least one block ofat least one 12 consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.In certain such embodiments, at least one such block is located at the3′ end of the oligonucleotide. In certain such embodiments, at least onesuch block is located within 3 nucleosides of the 3′ end of theoligonucleotide.

Oligonucleotides having any of the various sugar motifs describedherein, may have any linkage motif. For example, the oligonucleotides,including but not limited to those described above, may have a linkagemotif selected from non-limiting the table below:

5′ most linkage Central region 3′-region PS Alternating PO/PS 6 PS PSAlternating PO/PS 7 PS PS Alternating PO/PS 8 PS

siRNA Compounds

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds are double-stranded RNAicompounds (siRNA). In such embodiments, one or both strands may compriseany modification motif described above for ssRNA. In certainembodiments, ssRNA compounds may be unmodified RNA. In certainembodiments, siRNA compounds may comprise unmodified RNA nucleosides,but modified internucleoside linkages.

Several embodiments relate to double-stranded compositions wherein eachstrand comprises a motif defined by the location of one or more modifiedor unmodified nucleosides. In certain embodiments, compositions areprovided comprising a first and a second oligomeric compound that arefully or at least partially hybridized to form a duplex region andfurther comprising a region that is complementary to and hybridizes to anucleic acid target. It is suitable that such a composition comprise afirst oligomeric compound that is an antisense strand having full orpartial complementarity to a nucleic acid target and a second oligomericcompound that is a sense strand having one or more regions ofcomplementarity to and forming at least one duplex region with the firstoligomeric compound.

The compositions of several embodiments modulate gene expression byhybridizing to a nucleic acid target resulting in loss of its normalfunction. In certain embodiments, the degradation of the targeted P23Hrhodopsin is facilitated by an activated RISC complex that is formedwith compositions of the invention.

Several embodiments are directed to double-stranded compositions whereinone of the strands is useful in, for example, influencing thepreferential loading of the opposite strand into the RISC (or cleavage)complex. The compositions are useful for targeting selected nucleic acidmolecules and modulating the expression of one or more genes. In someembodiments, the compositions of the present invention hybridize to aportion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of thetarget RNA.

Certain embodiments are drawn to double-stranded compositions whereinboth the strands comprises a hemimer motif, a fully modified motif, apositionally modified motif or an alternating motif. Each strand of thecompositions of the present invention can be modified to fulfill aparticular role in for example the siRNA pathway. Using a differentmotif in each strand or the same motif with different chemicalmodifications in each strand permits targeting the antisense strand forthe RISC complex while inhibiting the incorporation of the sense strand.Within this model, each strand can be independently modified such thatit is enhanced for its particular role. The antisense strand can bemodified at the 5′-end to enhance its role in one region of the RISCwhile the 3′-end can be modified differentially to enhance its role in adifferent region of the RISC.

The double-stranded oligonucleotide molecules can be a double-strandedpolynucleotide molecule comprising self-complementary sense andantisense regions, wherein the antisense region comprises nucleotidesequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence in a targetnucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof and the sense region havingnucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence ora portion thereof. The double-stranded oligonucleotide molecules can beassembled from two separate oligonucleotides, where one strand is thesense strand and the other is the antisense strand, wherein theantisense and sense strands are self-complementary (i.e. each strandcomprises nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotidesequence in the other strand; such as where the antisense strand andsense strand form a duplex or double-stranded structure, for examplewherein the double-stranded region is about 15 to about 30, e.g., about15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 basepairs; the antisense strand comprises nucleotide sequence that iscomplementary to nucleotide sequence in a target nucleic acid moleculeor a portion thereof and the sense strand comprises nucleotide sequencecorresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof(e.g., about 15 to about 25 or more nucleotides of the double-strandedoligonucleotide molecule are complementary to the target nucleic acid ora portion thereof). Alternatively, the double-stranded oligonucleotideis assembled from a single oligonucleotide, where the self-complementarysense and antisense regions of the siRNA are linked by means of anucleic acid based or non-nucleic acid-based linker(s).

The double-stranded oligonucleotide can be a polynucleotide with aduplex, asymmetric duplex, hairpin or asymmetric hairpin secondarystructure, having self-complementary sense and antisense regions,wherein the antisense region comprises nucleotide sequence that iscomplementary to nucleotide sequence in a separate target nucleic acidmolecule or a portion thereof and the sense region having nucleotidesequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portionthereof. The double-stranded oligonucleotide can be a circularsingle-stranded polynucleotide having two or more loop structures and astem comprising self-complementary sense and antisense regions, whereinthe antisense region comprises nucleotide sequence that is complementaryto nucleotide sequence in a target nucleic acid molecule or a portionthereof and the sense region having nucleotide sequence corresponding tothe target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof, and wherein thecircular polynucleotide can be processed either in vivo or in vitro togenerate an active siRNA molecule capable of mediating RNAi.

In certain embodiments, the double-stranded oligonucleotide comprisesseparate sense and antisense sequences or regions, wherein the sense andantisense regions are covalently linked by nucleotide or non-nucleotidelinkers molecules as is known in the art, or are alternatelynon-covalently linked by ionic interactions, hydrogen bonding, van derwaals interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and/or stackinginteractions. In certain embodiments, the double-strandedoligonucleotide comprises nucleotide sequence that is complementary tonucleotide sequence of a target gene. In another embodiment, thedouble-stranded oligonucleotide interacts with nucleotide sequence of atarget gene in a manner that causes inhibition of expression of thetarget gene.

As used herein, double-stranded oligonucleotides need not be limited tothose molecules containing only RNA, but further encompasses chemicallymodified nucleotides and non-nucleotides. In certain embodiments, theshort interfering nucleic acid molecules lack 2′-hydroxy (2′-OH)containing nucleotides. In certain embodiments short interfering nucleicacids optionally do not include any ribonucleotides (e.g., nucleotideshaving a 2′-OH group). Such double-stranded oligonucleotides that do notrequire the presence of ribonucleotides within the molecule to supportRNAi can however have an attached linker or linkers or other attached orassociated groups, moieties, or chains containing one or morenucleotides with 2′-OH groups. Optionally, double-strandedoligonucleotides can comprise ribonucleotides at about 5, 10, 20, 30,40, or 50% of the nucleotide positions. As used herein, the term siRNAis meant to be equivalent to other terms used to describe nucleic acidmolecules that are capable of mediating sequence specific RNAi, forexample short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA),micro-RNA (miRNA), short hairpin RNA (shRNA), short interferingoligonucleotide, short interfering nucleic acid, short interferingmodified oligonucleotide, chemically modified siRNA,post-transcriptional gene silencing RNA (ptgsRNA), and others. Inaddition, as used herein, the term RNAi is meant to be equivalent toother terms used to describe sequence specific RNA interference, such aspost transcriptional gene silencing, translational inhibition, orepigenetics. For example, double-stranded oligonucleotides can be usedto epigenetically silence genes at both the post-transcriptional leveland the pre-transcriptional level. In a non-limiting example, epigeneticregulation of gene expression by siRNA molecules of the invention canresult from siRNA mediated modification of chromatin structure ormethylation pattern to alter gene expression (see, for example, Verdelet al., 2004, Science, 303, 672-676; Pal-Bhadra et al., 2004, Science,303, 669-672; Allshire, 2002, Science, 297, 1818-1819; Volpe et al.,2002, Science, 297, 1833-1837; Jenuwein, 2002, Science, 297, 2215-2218;and Hall et al., 2002, Science, 297, 2232-2237).

It is contemplated that compounds and compositions of severalembodiments provided herein can target P23H rhodopsin by adsRNA-mediated gene silencing or RNAi mechanism, including, e.g.,“hairpin” or stem-loop double-stranded RNA effector molecules in which asingle RNA strand with self-complementary sequences is capable ofassuming a double-stranded conformation, or duplex dsRNA effectormolecules comprising two separate strands of RNA. In variousembodiments, the dsRNA consists entirely of ribonucleotides or consistsof a mixture of ribonucleotides and deoxynucleotides, such as theRNA/DNA hybrids disclosed, for example, by WO 00/63364, filed Apr. 19,2000, or U.S. Ser. No. 60/130,377, filed Apr. 21, 1999. The dsRNA ordsRNA effector molecule may be a single molecule with a region ofself-complementarity such that nucleotides in one segment of themolecule base pair with nucleotides in another segment of the molecule.In various embodiments, a dsRNA that consists of a single moleculeconsists entirely of ribonucleotides or includes a region ofribonucleotides that is complementary to a region ofdeoxyribonucleotides. Alternatively, the dsRNA may include two differentstrands that have a region of complementarity to each other.

In various embodiments, both strands consist entirely ofribonucleotides, one strand consists entirely of ribonucleotides and onestrand consists entirely of deoxyribonucleotides, or one or both strandscontain a mixture of ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides. Incertain embodiments, the regions of complementarity are at least 70, 80,90, 95, 98, or 100% complementary to each other and to a target nucleicacid sequence. In certain embodiments, the region of the dsRNA that ispresent in a double-stranded conformation includes at least 19, 20, 21,22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 50, 75, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 or5000 nucleotides or includes all of the nucleotides in a cDNA or othertarget nucleic acid sequence being represented in the dsRNA. In someembodiments, the dsRNA does not contain any single stranded regions,such as single stranded ends, or the dsRNA is a hairpin. In otherembodiments, the dsRNA has one or more single stranded regions oroverhangs. In certain embodiments, RNA/DNA hybrids include a DNA strandor region that is an antisense strand or region (e.g, has at least 70,80, 90, 95, 98, or 100% complementarity to a target nucleic acid) and anRNA strand or region that is a sense strand or region (e.g, has at least70, 80, 90, 95, 98, or 100% identity to a target nucleic acid), and viceversa.

In various embodiments, the RNA/DNA hybrid is made in vitro usingenzymatic or chemical synthetic methods such as those described hereinor those described in WO 00/63364, filed Apr. 19, 2000, or U.S. Ser. No.60/130,377, filed Apr. 21, 1999. In other embodiments, a DNA strandsynthesized in vitro is complexed with an RNA strand made in vivo or invitro before, after, or concurrent with the transformation of the DNAstrand into the cell. In yet other embodiments, the dsRNA is a singlecircular nucleic acid containing a sense and an antisense region, or thedsRNA includes a circular nucleic acid and either a second circularnucleic acid or a linear nucleic acid (see, for example, WO 00/63364,filed Apr. 19, 2000, or U.S. Ser. No. 60/130,377, filed Apr. 21, 1999.)Exemplary circular nucleic acids include lariat structures in which thefree 5′ phosphoryl group of a nucleotide becomes linked to the 2′hydroxyl group of another nucleotide in a loop back fashion.

In other embodiments, the dsRNA includes one or more modifiednucleotides in which the 2′ position in the sugar contains a halogen(such as fluorine group) or contains an alkoxy group (such as a methoxygroup) which increases the half-life of the dsRNA in vitro or in vivocompared to the corresponding dsRNA in which the corresponding 2′position contains a hydrogen or an hydroxyl group. In yet otherembodiments, the dsRNA includes one or more linkages between adjacentnucleotides other than a naturally-occurring phosphodiester linkage.Examples of such linkages include phosphoramide, phosphorothioate, andphosphorodithioate linkages. The dsRNAs may also be chemically modifiednucleic acid molecules as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,661. In otherembodiments, the dsRNA contains one or two capped strands, as disclosed,for example, by WO 00/63364, filed Apr. 19, 2000, or U.S. Ser. No.60/130,377, filed Apr. 21, 1999.

In other embodiments, the dsRNA can be any of the at least partiallydsRNA molecules disclosed in WO 00/63364, as well as any of the dsRNAmolecules described in U.S. Provisional Application 60/399,998; and U.S.Provisional Application 60/419,532, and PCT/US2003/033466, the teachingof which is hereby incorporated by reference. Any of the dsRNAs may beexpressed in vitro or in vivo using the methods described herein orstandard methods, such as those described in WO 00/63364.

Occupancy

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds are not expected to resultin cleavage or the target nucleic acid via RNase H or to result incleavage or sequestration through the RISC pathway. In certain suchembodiments, antisense activity may result from occupancy, wherein thepresence of the hybridized antisense compound disrupts the activity ofthe target nucleic acid. In certain such embodiments, the antisensecompound may be uniformly modified or may comprise a mix ofmodifications and/or modified and unmodified nucleosides.

Target Nucleic Acids, Target Regions and Nucleotide Sequences

Nucleotide sequences that encode wild-type rhodopsin, withoutlimitation, genomic sequence having the sequence set forth in GENBANKAccession No. NT_005612.16 truncated from nucleotides 35737800 to35755500 (incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 1) and coding sequencehaving the sequence set forth in GENBANK Accession No NM_000539.3(incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 3). Nucleotide sequences that encodemutant P23H rhodopsin nucleic acid have a C to A mutation at nucleotide163 of GENBANK Accession No NM_000539.3 and is incorporated herein asSEQ ID NO: 2.

Hybridization

In some embodiments, hybridization occurs between an antisense compounddisclosed herein and a P23H rhodopsin nucleic acid. The most commonmechanism of hybridization involves hydrogen bonding (e.g.,Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding) betweencomplementary nucleobases of the nucleic acid molecules.

Hybridization can occur under varying conditions. Stringent conditionsare sequence-dependent and are determined by the nature and compositionof the nucleic acid molecules to be hybridized.

Methods of determining whether a sequence is specifically hybridizableto a target nucleic acid are well known in the art. In certainembodiments, the antisense compounds provided herein are specificallyhybridizable with a P23H rhodopsin nucleic acid.

Complementarity

An antisense compound and a target nucleic acid are complementary toeach other when a sufficient number of nucleobases of the antisensecompound can hydrogen bond with the corresponding nucleobases of thetarget nucleic acid, such that a desired effect will occur (e.g.,antisense inhibition of a target nucleic acid, such as a P23H rhodopsinnucleic acid).

Non-complementary nucleobases between an antisense compound and a P23Hrhodopsin nucleic acid may be tolerated provided that the antisensecompound remains able to specifically hybridize to a target nucleicacid. Moreover, an antisense compound may hybridize over one or moresegments of a P23H rhodopsin nucleic acid such that intervening oradjacent segments are not involved in the hybridization event (e.g., aloop structure, mismatch or hairpin structure).

In certain embodiments, the antisense compounds provided herein, or aspecified portion thereof, are, or are at least, 70%, 80%, 85%, 86%,87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100%complementary to a P23H rhodopsin nucleic acid, a target region, targetsegment, or specified portion thereof. Percent complementarity of anantisense compound with a target nucleic acid can be determined usingroutine methods.

For example, an antisense compound in which 18 of 20 nucleobases of theantisense compound are complementary to a target region, and wouldtherefore specifically hybridize, would represent 90 percentcomplementarity. In this example, the remaining noncomplementarynucleobases may be clustered or interspersed with complementarynucleobases and need not be contiguous to each other or to complementarynucleobases. As such, an antisense compound which is 18 nucleobases inlength having four noncomplementary nucleobases which are flanked by tworegions of complete complementarity with the target nucleic acid wouldhave 77.8% overall complementarity with the target nucleic acid andwould thus fall within the scope of the present invention. Percentcomplementarity of an antisense compound with a region of a targetnucleic acid can be determined routinely using BLAST programs (basiclocal alignment search tools) and PowerBLAST programs known in the art(Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol., 1990, 215, 403 410; Zhang and Madden,Genome Res., 1997, 7, 649 656). Percent homology, sequence identity orcomplementarity, can be determined by, for example, the Gap program(Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, Version 8 for Unix, GeneticsComputer Group, University Research Park, Madison Wis.), using defaultsettings, which uses the algorithm of Smith and Waterman (Adv. Appl.Math., 1981, 2, 482 489).

In certain embodiments, the antisense compounds provided herein, orspecified portions thereof, are fully complementary (i.e. 100%complementary) to a target nucleic acid, or specified portion thereof.For example, an antisense compound may be fully complementary to a P23Hrhodopsin nucleic acid, or a target region, or a target segment ortarget sequence thereof. As used herein, “fully complementary” meanseach nucleobase of an antisense compound is capable of precise basepairing with the corresponding nucleobases of a target nucleic acid. Forexample, a 20 nucleobase antisense compound is fully complementary to atarget sequence that is 400 nucleobases long, so long as there is acorresponding 20 nucleobase portion of the target nucleic acid that isfully complementary to the antisense compound. Fully complementary canalso be used in reference to a specified portion of the first and/or thesecond nucleic acid. For example, a 20 nucleobase portion of a 30nucleobase antisense compound can be “fully complementary” to a targetsequence that is 400 nucleobases long. The 20 nucleobase portion of the30 nucleobase oligonucleotide is fully complementary to the targetsequence if the target sequence has a corresponding 20 nucleobaseportion wherein each nucleobase is complementary to the 20 nucleobaseportion of the antisense compound. At the same time, the entire 30nucleobase antisense compound may or may not be fully complementary tothe target sequence, depending on whether the remaining 10 nucleobasesof the antisense compound are also complementary to the target sequence.

The location of a non-complementary nucleobase may be at the 5′ end or3′ end of the antisense compound. Alternatively, the non-complementarynucleobase or nucleobases may be at an internal position of theantisense compound. When two or more non-complementary nucleobases arepresent, they may be contiguous (i.e. linked) or non-contiguous. In oneembodiment, a non-complementary nucleobase is located in the wingsegment of a gapmer antisense oligonucleotide.

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds that are, or are up to 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 nucleobases in length comprise nomore than 4, no more than 3, no more than 2, or no more than 1non-complementary nucleobase(s) relative to a target nucleic acid, suchas a P23H rhodopsin nucleic acid, or specified portion thereof.

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds that are, or are up to 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,or 30 nucleobases in length comprise no more than 6, no more than 5, nomore than 4, no more than 3, no more than 2, or no more than 1non-complementary nucleobase(s) relative to a target nucleic acid, suchas a P23H rhodopsin nucleic acid, or specified portion thereof.

The antisense compounds provided also include those which arecomplementary to a portion of a target nucleic acid. As used herein,“portion” refers to a defined number of contiguous (i.e. linked)nucleobases within a region or segment of a target nucleic acid. A“portion” can also refer to a defined number of contiguous nucleobasesof an antisense compound. In certain embodiments, the antisensecompounds, are complementary to at least an 8 nucleobase portion of atarget segment. In certain embodiments, the antisense compounds arecomplementary to at least a 9 nucleobase portion of a target segment. Incertain embodiments, the antisense compounds are complementary to atleast a 10 nucleobase portion of a target segment. In certainembodiments, the antisense compounds are complementary to at least an 11nucleobase portion of a target segment. In certain embodiments, theantisense compounds are complementary to at least a 12 nucleobaseportion of a target segment. In certain embodiments, the antisensecompounds are complementary to at least a 13 nucleobase portion of atarget segment. In certain embodiments, the antisense compounds arecomplementary to at least a 14 nucleobase portion of a target segment.In certain embodiments, the antisense compounds are complementary to atleast a 15 nucleobase portion of a target segment. Also contemplated areantisense compounds that are complementary to at least a 9, 10, 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more nucleobase portion of a targetsegment, or a range defined by any two of these values.

Identity

The antisense compounds provided herein may also have a defined percentidentity to a particular nucleotide sequence, SEQ ID NO, or compoundrepresented by a specific Isis number, or portion thereof. As usedherein, an antisense compound is identical to the sequence disclosedherein if it has the same nucleobase pairing ability. For example, a RNAwhich contains uracil in place of thymidine in a disclosed DNA sequencewould be considered identical to the DNA sequence since both uracil andthymidine pair with adenine. Shortened and lengthened versions of theantisense compounds described herein as well as compounds havingnon-identical bases relative to the antisense compounds provided hereinalso are contemplated. The non-identical bases may be adjacent to eachother or dispersed throughout the antisense compound. Percent identityof an antisense compound is calculated according to the number of basesthat have identical base pairing relative to the sequence to which it isbeing compared.

In certain embodiments, the antisense compounds, or portions thereof,are, or are at least, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%,96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to one or more of the antisensecompounds or SEQ ID NOs, or a portion thereof, disclosed herein.

In certain embodiments, a portion of the antisense compound is comparedto an equal length portion of the target nucleic acid. In certainembodiments, an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,22, 23, 24, or 25 nucleobase portion is compared to an equal lengthportion of the target nucleic acid.

In certain embodiments, a portion of the antisense oligonucleotide iscompared to an equal length portion of the target nucleic acid. Incertain embodiments, an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 nucleobase portion is compared to an equallength portion of the target nucleic acid.

Modifications

A nucleoside is a base-sugar combination. The nucleobase (also known asbase) portion of the nucleoside is normally a heterocyclic base moiety.Nucleotides are nucleosides that further include a phosphate groupcovalently linked to the sugar portion of the nucleoside. For thosenucleosides that include a pentofuranosyl sugar, the phosphate group canbe linked to the 2′, 3′ or 5′ hydroxyl moiety of the sugar.Oligonucleotides are formed through the covalent linkage of adjacentnucleosides to one another, to form a linear polymeric oligonucleotide.Within the oligonucleotide structure, the phosphate groups are commonlyreferred to as forming the internucleoside linkages of theoligonucleotide.

Modifications to antisense compounds encompass substitutions or changesto internucleoside linkages, sugar moieties, or nucleobases. Modifiedantisense compounds are often preferred over native forms because ofdesirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake,enhanced affinity for nucleic acid target, increased stability in thepresence of nucleases, or increased inhibitory activity.

Chemically modified nucleosides may also be employed to increase thebinding affinity of a shortened or truncated antisense oligonucleotidefor its target nucleic acid. Consequently, comparable results can oftenbe obtained with shorter antisense compounds that have such chemicallymodified nucleosides.

Modified Internucleoside Linkages

The naturally occuring internucleoside linkage of RNA and DNA is a 3′ to5′ phosphodiester linkage. Antisense compounds having one or moremodified, i.e. non-naturally occurring, internucleoside linkages areoften selected over antisense compounds having naturally occurringinternucleoside linkages because of desirable properties such as, forexample, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for target nucleicacids, and increased stability in the presence of nucleases.

Oligonucleotides having modified internucleoside linkages includeinternucleoside linkages that retain a phosphorus atom as well asinternucleoside linkages that do not have a phosphorus atom.Representative phosphorus containing internucleoside linkages include,but are not limited to, phosphodiesters, phosphotriesters,methylphosphonates, phosphoramidate, and phosphorothioates. Methods ofpreparation of phosphorous-containing and non-phosphorous-containinglinkages are well known.

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds targeted to a P23H rhodopsinnucleic acid comprise one or more modified internucleoside linkages. Incertain embodiments, the modified internucleoside linkages arephosphorothioate linkages. In certain embodiments, each internucleosidelinkage of an antisense compound is a phosphorothioate internucleosidelinkage.

Modified Sugar Moieties

Antisense compounds can optionally contain one or more nucleosideswherein the sugar group has been modified. Such sugar modifiednucleosides may impart enhanced nuclease stability, increased bindingaffinity, or some other beneficial biological property to the antisensecompounds. In certain embodiments, nucleosides comprise chemicallymodified ribofuranose ring moieties. Examples of chemically modifiedribofuranose rings include without limitation, addition of substitutentgroups (including 5′ and 2′ substituent groups, bridging of non-geminalring atoms to form bicyclic nucleic acids (BNA), replacement of theribosyl ring oxygen atom with S, N(R), or C(R₁)(R₂) (R, R₁ and R₂ areeach independently H, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or a protecting group) andcombinations thereof. Examples of chemically modified sugars include2′-F-5′-methyl substituted nucleoside (see PCT International ApplicationWO 2008/101157 Published on Aug. 21, 2008 for other disclosed 5′,2′-bissubstituted nucleosides) or replacement of the ribosyl ring oxygen atomwith S with further substitution at the 2′-position (see published U.S.Patent Application US2005-0130923, published on Jun. 16, 2005) oralternatively 5′-substitution of a BNA (see PCT InternationalApplication WO 2007/134181 Published on Nov. 22, 2007 wherein4′-(CH₂)—O-2′ (LNA) is substituted with for example a 5′-methyl or a5′-vinyl group).

Examples of nucleosides having modified sugar moieties include withoutlimitation nucleosides comprising 5′-vinyl, 5′-methyl (R or S), 4′-S,2′-F, 2′-OCH₃, 2′-OCH₂CH₃, 2′-OCH₂CH₂F and 2′-O(CH₂)₂OCH₃ substituentgroups. The substituent at the 2′ position can also be selected fromallyl, amino, azido, thio, O-allyl, O—C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, OCF₃, OCH₂F,O(CH₂)₂SCH₃, O(CH₂)₂—O—N(R_(m))(R_(n)), O—CH₂—C(═O)—N(R_(m))(R_(n)), andO—CH₂-C(═O)—N(R₁)—(CH₂)_(2-N)(R_(m))(R_(n)), where each R_(l), R_(m) andR_(n) is, independently, H or substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl.

As used herein, “bicyclic nucleosides” refer to modified nucleosidescomprising a bicyclic sugar moiety. Examples of bicyclic nucleosidesinclude without limitation nucleosides comprising a bridge between the4′ and the 2′ ribosyl ring atoms. In certain embodiments, antisensecompounds provided herein include one or more bicyclic nucleosidescomprising a 4′ to 2′ bridge. Examples of such 4′ to 2′ bridged bicyclicnucleosides, include but are not limited to one of the formulae:4′-(CH₂)—O-2′ (LNA); 4′-(CH₂)—S-2′; 4′-(CH₂)₂—O-2′ (ENA);4′-CH(CH₃)—O-2′ (also referred to as constrained ethyl or cEt) and4′-CH(CH₂OCH₃)—O-2′ (and analogs thereof see U.S. Pat. No. 7,399,845,issued on Jul. 15, 2008); 4′-C(CH₃)(CH₃)—O-2′ (and analogs thereof seepublished International Application WO/2009/006478, published Jan. 8,2009); 4′-CH₂—N(OCH₃)-2′ (and analogs thereof see publishedInternational Application WO/2008/150729, published Dec. 11, 2008);4′-CH₂—O—N(CH₃)-2′ (see published U.S. Patent ApplicationUS2004-0171570, published Sep. 2, 2004); 4′-CH₂—N(R)—O-2′, wherein R isH, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, or a protecting group (see U.S. Pat. No. 7,427,672,issued on Sep. 23, 2008); 4′-CH₂—C(H)(CH₃)-2′ (see Chattopadhyaya etal., J. Org. Chem., 2009, 74, 118-134); and 4′-CH₂—C(═CH₂)-2′ (andanalogs thereof see published International Application WO 2008/154401,published on Dec. 8, 2008).

Further reports related to bicyclic nucleosides can also be found inpublished literature (see for example: Singh et al., Chem. Commun.,1998, 4, 455-456; Koshkin et al., Tetrahedron, 1998, 54, 3607-3630;Wahlestedt et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U S. A., 2000, 97, 5633-5638;Kumar et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1998, 8, 2219-2222; Singh etal., J. Org. Chem., 1998, 63, 10035-10039; Srivastava et al., J. Am.Chem. Soc., 2007, 129(26) 8362-8379; Elayadi et al., Curr. OpinionInvest. Drugs, 2001, 2, 558-561; Braasch et al., Chem. Biol., 2001, 8,1-7; and Orum et al., Curr. Opinion Mol. Ther., 2001, 3, 239-243; U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,268,490; 6,525,191; 6,670,461; 6,770,748; 6,794,499;7,034,133; 7,053,207; 7,399,845; 7,547,684; and 7,696,345; U.S. PatentPublication No. US2008-0039618; US2009-0012281; U.S. Patent Ser. Nos.60/989,574; 61/026,995; 61/026,998; 61/056,564; 61/086,231; 61/097,787;and 61/099,844; Published PCT International applications WO 1994/014226;WO 2004/106356; WO 2005/021570; WO 2007/134181; WO 2008/150729; WO2008/154401; and WO 2009/006478. Each of the foregoing bicyclicnucleosides can be prepared having one or more stereochemical sugarconfigurations including for example α-L-ribofuranose andβ-D-ribofuranose (see PCT international application PCT/DK98/00393,published on Mar. 25, 1999 as WO 99/14226).

In certain embodiments, bicyclic sugar moieties of BNA nucleosidesinclude, but are not limited to, compounds having at least one bridgebetween the 4′ and the 2′ position of the pentofuranosyl sugar moietywherein such bridges independently comprises 1 or from 2 to 4 linkedgroups independently selected from —[C(R_(a))(R_(b))]_(n)—,—C(R_(a))═C(R_(b))—, —C(R_(a))═N—, —C(═O)—, —C(═NR_(a))—, —C(═S)—, —O—,—Si(R_(a))₂—, —S(═O)_(x)—, and —N(R_(a))—;

wherein:

x is 0, 1, or 2;

n is 1, 2, 3, or 4;

each R_(a) and R_(b) is, independently, H, a protecting group, hydroxyl,C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, substitutedC₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, C₅-C₂₀ aryl,substituted C₅-C₂₀ aryl, heterocycle radical, substituted heterocycleradical, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, C₅-C₇ alicyclic radical,substituted C₅-C₇ alicyclic radical, halogen, OJ₁, NJ₁J₂, SJ₁, N₃,COOJ₁, acyl (C(═O)—H), substituted acyl, CN, sulfonyl (S(═O)₂-J₁), orsulfoxyl (S(═O)-J₁); and

each J₁ and J₂ is, independently, H, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl,substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, C₅-C₂₀ aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₀ aryl, acyl(C(═O)—H), substituted acyl, a heterocycle radical, a substitutedheterocycle radical, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl ora protecting group.

In certain embodiments, the bridge of a bicyclic sugar moiety is—[C(R_(a))(R_(b))]_(n)—, —[C(R_(a))(R_(b))]_(n)—O—C(R_(a)R_(b))—N(R)—O—or —C(R_(a)R_(b))—O—N(R)—. In certain embodiments, the bridge is4′-CH₂-2′, 4′-(CH₂)₂-2′, 4′-(CH₂)₃-2′, 4′-CH₂—O-2′, 4′-(CH₂)₂—O-2′,4′-CH₂—O—N(R)-2′ and 4′-CH₂—N(R)—O-2′- wherein each R is, independently,H, a protecting group or C₁-C₁₂ alkyl.

In certain embodiments, bicyclic nucleosides are further defined byisomeric configuration. For example, a nucleoside comprising a 4′-2′methylene-oxy bridge, may be in the α-L configuration or in the β-Dconfiguration. Previously, α-L-methyleneoxy (4′-CH₂—O-2′) BNA's havebeen incorporated into antisense oligonucleotides that showed antisenseactivity (Frieden et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2003, 21, 6365-6372).

In certain embodiments, bicyclic nucleosides include, but are notlimited to, (A) α-L-methyleneoxy (4′-CH₂—O-2′) BNA, (B) β-D-methyleneoxy(4′-CH₂—O-2′) BNA, (C) ethyleneoxy (4′-(CH₂)₂—O-2′) BNA, (D) aminooxy(4′-CH₂—O—N(R)-2′) BNA, (E) oxyamino (4′-CH₂—N(R)—O-2′) BNA, and (F)methyl(methyleneoxy) (4′-CH(CH₃)—O-2′) BNA, (G) methylene-thio(4′-CH₂—S-2′) BNA, (H) methylene-amino (4′-CH₂—N(R)-2′) BNA, (I) methylcarbocyclic (4′-CH₂—CH(CH₃)-2′) BNA, (J) propylene carbocyclic(4′-(CH₂)₃-2′) BNA and (K) vinyl BNA as depicted below:

wherein Bx is the base moiety and R is independently H, a protectinggroup, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy.

In certain embodiments, bicyclic nucleosides are provided having FormulaI:

wherein:

Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety;

-Q_(a)-Q_(b)-Q_(c)- is —CH₂—N(R_(c))—CH₂—, —C(═O)—N(R_(c))—CH₂—,—CH₂—O—N(R_(c))—, —CH₂—N(R_(c))—O— or —N(R_(c))—O—CH₂;

R_(c) is C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or an amino protecting group; and

T_(a) and T_(b) are each, independently H, a hydroxyl protecting group,a conjugate group, a reactive phosphorus group, a phosphorus moiety or acovalent attachment to a support medium.

In certain embodiments, bicyclic nucleosides are provided having FormulaII:

wherein:

Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety;

T_(a) and T_(b) are each, independently H, a hydroxyl protecting group,a conjugate group, a reactive phosphorus group, a phosphorus moiety or acovalent attachment to a support medium;

Z_(a) is C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, substituted C₁-C₆alkyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkynyl, acyl,substituted acyl, substituted amide, thiol or substituted thio.

In one embodiment, each of the substituted groups is, independently,mono or poly substituted with substituent groups independently selectedfrom halogen, oxo, hydroxyl, OJ_(c), NJ_(c)J_(d), SJ_(c), N₃,OC(═X)J_(c), and NJ_(e)C(═X)NJ_(c)J_(d), wherein each J_(c), J_(d) andJ_(e) is, independently, H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, or substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl andX is O or NJ_(c).

In certain embodiments, bicyclic nucleosides are provided having FormulaIII:

wherein:

Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety;

T_(a) and T_(b) are each, independently H, a hydroxyl protecting group,a conjugate group, a reactive phosphorus group, a phosphorus moiety or acovalent attachment to a support medium;

Z_(b) is C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, substituted C₁-C₆alkyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkynyl orsubstituted acyl (C(═O)—).

In certain embodiments, bicyclic nucleosides are provided having FormulaIV:

wherein:

Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety;

T_(a) and T_(b) are each, independently H, a hydroxyl protecting group,a conjugate group, a reactive phosphorus group, a phosphorus moiety or acovalent attachment to a support medium;

R_(d) is C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl,substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl or substituted C₂-C₆ alkynyl;

each q_(a), q_(b), q_(c) and q_(d) is, independently, H, halogen, C₁-C₆alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₆alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl or substituted C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxyl,substituted C₁-C₆ alkoxyl, acyl, substituted acyl, C₁-C₆ aminoalkyl orsubstituted C₁-C₆ aminoalkyl;

In certain embodiments, bicyclic nucleosides are provided having FormulaV:

wherein:

Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety;

T_(a) and T_(b) are each, independently H, a hydroxyl protecting group,a conjugate group, a reactive phosphorus group, a phosphorus moiety or acovalent attachment to a support medium;

q_(a), q_(b), q_(e) and q_(f) are each, independently, hydrogen,halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl,substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl,C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, substituted C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, OJ_(j), SJ_(j), SOJ_(j),SO₂J_(j), NJ_(j)J_(k), N₃, CN, C(═O)OJ_(j), C(═O)NJ_(j)J_(k),C(═O)J_(j), O—C(═O)—NJ_(j)J_(k), N(H)C(═NH)NJ_(j)J_(k),N(H)C(═O)NJ_(j)J_(k) or N(H)C(═S)NJ_(j)J_(k);

or q_(e) and q_(f) together are ═C(q_(g))(q_(h));

q_(g) and q_(h) are each, independently, H, halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl orsubstituted C₁-C₁₂ alkyl.

The synthesis and preparation of the methyleneoxy (4′-CH₂—O-2′) BNAmonomers adenine, cytosine, guanine, 5-methyl-cytosine, thymine anduracil, along with their oligomerization, and nucleic acid recognitionproperties have been described (Koshkin et al., Tetrahedron, 1998, 54,3607-3630). BNAs and preparation thereof are also described in WO98/39352 and WO 99/14226.

Analogs of methyleneoxy (4′-CH₂—O-2′) BNA and 2′-thio-BNAs, have alsobeen prepared (Kumar et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1998, 8,2219-2222). Preparation of locked nucleoside analogs comprisingoligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes as substrates for nucleic acidpolymerases has also been described (Wengel et al., WO 99/14226).Furthermore, synthesis of 2′-amino-BNA, a novel comformationallyrestricted high-affinity oligonucleotide analog has been described inthe art (Singh et al., J. Org. Chem., 1998, 63, 10035-10039). Inaddition, 2′-amino- and 2′-methylamino-BNA's have been prepared and thethermal stability of their duplexes with complementary RNA and DNAstrands has been previously reported.

In certain embodiments, bicyclic nucleosides are provided having FormulaVI:

wherein:

Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety;

T_(a) and T_(b) are each, independently H, a hydroxyl protecting group,a conjugate group, a reactive phosphorus group, a phosphorus moiety or acovalent attachment to a support medium;

each q_(i), q_(j), q_(k) and q_(l) is, independently, H, halogen, C₁-C₁₂alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂alkenyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkoxyl,substituted C₁-C₁₂ alkoxyl, OJ_(j), SJ_(j), SOJ_(j), SO₂J_(j),NJ_(j)J_(k), N₃, CN, C(═O)OJ_(j), C(═O)NJ_(j)J_(k), C(═O)J_(j),O—C(═O)NJ_(j)J_(k), N(H)C(═NH)NJ_(j)J_(k), N(H)C(═O)NJ_(j)J_(k) orN(H)C(═S)NJ_(j)J_(k); and

q_(i) and q_(j) or q₁ and q_(k) together are ═C(q_(g))(q_(h)), whereinq_(g) and q_(h) are each, independently, H, halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl orsubstituted C₁-C₁₂ alkyl.

One carbocyclic bicyclic nucleoside having a 4′-(CH₂)₃-2′ bridge and thealkenyl analog bridge 4′-CH═CH—CH₂-2′ have been described (Freier etal., Nucleic Acids Research, 1997, 25(22), 4429-4443 and Albaek et al.,J. Org. Chem., 2006, 71, 7731-7740). The synthesis and preparation ofcarbocyclic bicyclic nucleosides along with their oligomerization andbiochemical studies have also been described (Srivastava et al., J. Am.Chem. Soc., 2007, 129(26), 8362-8379).

As used herein, “4′-2′ bicyclic nucleoside” or “4′ to 2′ bicyclicnucleoside” refers to a bicyclic nucleoside comprising a furanose ringcomprising a bridge connecting two carbon atoms of the furanose ringconnects the 2′ carbon atom and the 4′ carbon atom of the sugar ring.

As used herein, “monocylic nucleosides” refer to nucleosides comprisingmodified sugar moieties that are not bicyclic sugar moieties. In certainembodiments, the sugar moiety, or sugar moiety analogue, of a nucleosidemay be modified or substituted at any position.

As used herein, “2′-modified sugar” means a furanosyl sugar modified atthe 2′ position. In certain embodiments, such modifications includesubstituents selected from: a halide, including, but not limited tosubstituted and unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted and unsubstitutedthioalkyl, substituted and unsubstituted amino alkyl, substituted andunsubstituted alkyl, substituted and unsubstituted allyl, andsubstituted and unsubstituted alkynyl. In certain embodiments, 2′modifications are selected from substituents including, but not limitedto: O[(CH₂)_(n)O]_(m)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)NH₂, O(CH₂)_(n)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)F,O(CH₂)_(n)ONH₂, OCH₂C(═O)N(H)CH₃, and O(CH₂)_(n)ON[(CH₂)_(n)CH₃]₂, wheren and m are from 1 to about 10. Other 2′-substituent groups can also beselected from: C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH, SCH₃, OCN, Cl, Br, CN, F,CF₃, OCF₃, SOCH₃, SO₂CH₃, ONO₂, NO₂, N₃, NH₂, heterocycloalkyl,heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino, substituted silyl,an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, an intercalator, a group forimproving pharmacokinetic properties, or a group for improving thepharmacodynamic properties of an antisense compound, and othersubstituents having similar properties. In certain embodiments, modifiednucleosides comprise a 2′-MOE side chain (Baker et al., J. Biol. Chem.,1997, 272, 11944-12000). Such 2′-MOE substitution have been described ashaving improved binding affinity compared to unmodified nucleosides andto other modified nucleosides, such as 2′-O-methyl, O-propyl, andO-aminopropyl. Oligonucleotides having the 2′-MOE substituent also havebeen shown to be antisense inhibitors of gene expression with promisingfeatures for in vivo use (Martin, Helv. Chim. Acta, 1995, 78, 486-504;Altmann et al., Chimia, 1996, 50, 168-176; Altmann et al., Biochem. Soc.Trans., 1996, 24, 630-637; and Altmann et al., Nucleosides Nucleotides,1997, 16, 917-926).

As used herein, a “modified tetrahydropyran nucleoside” or “modified THPnucleoside” means a nucleoside having a six-membered tetrahydropyran“sugar” substituted in for the pentofuranosyl residue in normalnucleosides (a sugar surrogate). Modified THP nucleosides include, butare not limited to, what is referred to in the art as hexitol nucleicacid (HNA), anitol nucleic acid (ANA), manitol nucleic acid (MNA) (seeLeumann, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2002, 10, 841-854) or fluoro HNA (F-HNA)having a tetrahydropyran ring system as illustrated below:

In certain embodiments, sugar surrogates are selected having FormulaVII:

wherein independently for each of said at least one tetrahydropyrannucleoside analog of Formula VII:

Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety;

T_(a) and T_(b) are each, independently, an internucleoside linkinggroup linking the tetrahydropyran nucleoside analog to the antisensecompound or one of T_(a) and T_(b) is an internucleoside linking grouplinking the tetrahydropyran nucleoside analog to the antisense compoundand the other of T_(a) and T_(b) is H, a hydroxyl protecting group, alinked conjugate group or a 5′ or 3′-terminal group;

q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆ and q₇ are each independently, H, C₁-C₆ alkyl,substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl or substituted C₂-C₆ alkynyl; and each of R₁ and R₂ is selectedfrom hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,NJ₁J₂, SJ₁, N₃, OC(═X)J₁, OC(═X)NJ₁J₂, NJ₃C(═X)NJ₁J₂ and CN, wherein Xis O, S or NJ₁ and each J₁, J₂ and J₃ is, independently, H or C₁-C₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments, the modified THP nucleosides of Formula VII areprovided wherein q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆ and q₇ are each H. In certainembodiments, at least one of q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆ and q₇ is other thanH. In certain embodiments, at least one of q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆ and q₇is methyl. In certain embodiments, THP nucleosides of Formula VII areprovided wherein one of R₁ and R₂ is fluoro. In certain embodiments, R₁is fluoro and R₂ is H; R₁ is methoxy and R₂ is H, and R₁ ismethoxyethoxy and R₂ is H.

In certain embodiments, sugar surrogates comprise rings having more than5 atoms and more than one heteroatom. For example nucleosides comprisingmorpholino sugar moieties and their use in oligomeric compounds has beenreported (see for example: Braasch et al., Biochemistry, 2002, 41,4503-4510; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,685; 5,166,315; 5,185,444; and5,034,506). As used here, the term “morpholino” means a sugar surrogatehaving the following formula:

In certain embodiments, morpholinos may be modified, for example byadding or altering various substituent groups from the above morpholinostructure. Such sugar surrogates are referred to herein as “modifiedmorpholinos.”

Combinations of modifications are also provided without limitation, suchas 2′-F-5′-methyl substituted nucleosides (see PCT InternationalApplication WO 2008/101157 published on Aug. 21, 2008 for otherdisclosed 5′, 2′-bis substituted nucleosides) and replacement of theribosyl ring oxygen atom with S and further substitution at the2′-position (see published U.S. Patent Application US2005-0130923,published on Jun. 16, 2005) or alternatively 5′-substitution of abicyclic nucleic acid (see PCT International Application WO 2007/134181,published on Nov. 22, 2007 wherein a 4′-CH₂—O-2′ bicyclic nucleoside isfurther substituted at the 5′ position with a 5′-methyl or a 5′-vinylgroup). The synthesis and preparation of carbocyclic bicyclicnucleosides along with their oligomerization and biochemical studieshave also been described (see, e.g., Srivastava et al., J. Am. Chem.Soc. 2007, 129(26), 8362-8379).

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds comprise one or moremodified cyclohexenyl nucleosides, which is a nucleoside having asix-membered cyclohexenyl in place of the pentofuranosyl residue innaturally occurring nucleosides. Modified cyclohexenyl nucleosidesinclude, but are not limited to those described in the art (see forexample commonly owned, published PCT Application WO 2010/036696,published on Apr. 10, 2010, Robeyns et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2008,130(6), 1979-1984; Horváth et al., Tetrahedron Letters, 2007, 48,3621-3623; Nauwelaerts et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129(30),9340-9348; Gu et al., Nucleosides, Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids, 2005,24(5-7), 993-998; Nauwelaerts et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2005,33(8), 2452-2463; Robeyns et al., Acta Crystallographica, Section F:Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications, 2005, F61(6),585-586; Gu et al., Tetrahedron, 2004, 60(9), 2111-2123; Gu et al.,Oligonucleotides, 2003, 13(6), 479-489; Wang et al., J Org. Chem., 2003,68, 4499-4505; Verbeure et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2001, 29(24),4941-4947; Wang et al., J. Org. Chem., 2001, 66, 8478-82; Wang et al.,Nucleosides, Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids, 2001, 20(4-7), 785-788; Wanget al., J. Am. Chem., 2000, 122, 8595-8602; Published PCT application,WO 06/047842; and Published PCT Application WO 01/049687; the text ofeach is incorporated by reference herein, in their entirety). Certainmodified cyclohexenyl nucleosides have Formula X.

-   -   wherein independently for each of said at least one cyclohexenyl        nucleoside analog of Formula X:    -   Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety;    -   T₃ and T₄ are each, independently, an internucleoside linking        group linking the cyclohexenyl nucleoside analog to an antisense        compound or one of T₃ and T₄ is an internucleoside linking group        linking the tetrahydropyran nucleoside analog to an antisense        compound and the other of T₃ and T₄ is H, a hydroxyl protecting        group, a linked conjugate group, or a 5′- or 3′-terminal group;        and    -   q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆, q₇, q₈ and q₉ are each, independently,        H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl,        substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, substituted C₂-C₆        alkynyl or other sugar substituent group.

As used herein, “2′-modified” or “2′-substituted” refers to a nucleosidecomprising a sugar comprising a substituent at the 2′ position otherthan H or OH. 2′-modified nucleosides, include, but are not limited to,bicyclic nucleosides wherein the bridge connecting two carbon atoms ofthe sugar ring connects the 2′ carbon and another carbon of the sugarring; and nucleosides with non-bridging 2′substituents, such as allyl,amino, azido, thio, O-allyl, O—C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, —OCF₃, O—(CH₂)₂—O—CH₃,2′-O(CH₂)₂SCH₃, O—(CH₂)₂—O—N(R_(m))(R_(n)), orO—CH₂—C(═O)—N(R_(m))(R_(n)), where each R_(m) and R_(n) is,independently, H or substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl.2′-modified nucleosides may further comprise other modifications, forexample at other positions of the sugar and/or at the nucleobase.

As used herein, “2′-F” refers to a nucleoside comprising a sugarcomprising a fluoro group at the 2′ position of the sugar ring.

As used herein, “2′-OMe” or “2′-OCH₃” or “2′-O-methyl” each refers to anucleoside comprising a sugar comprising an —OCH₃ group at the 2′position of the sugar ring.

As used herein, “oligonucleotide” refers to a compound comprising aplurality of linked nucleosides. In certain embodiments, one or more ofthe plurality of nucleosides is modified. In certain embodiments, anoligonucleotide comprises one or more ribonucleosides (RNA) and/ordeoxyribonucleosides (DNA).

Many other bicyclo and tricyclo sugar surrogate ring systems are alsoknown in the art that can be used to modify nucleosides forincorporation into antisense compounds (see for example review article:Leumann, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2002, 10, 841-854). Such ring systems canundergo various additional substitutions to enhance activity.

Methods for the preparations of modified sugars are well known to thoseskilled in the art. Some representative U.S. patents that teach thepreparation of such modified sugars include without limitation, U.S.:4,981,957; 5,118,800; 5,319,080; 5,359,044; 5,393,878; 5,446,137;5,466,786; 5,514,785; 5,519,134; 5,567,811; 5,576,427; 5,591,722;5,597,909; 5,610,300; 5,627,053; 5,639,873; 5,646,265; 5,670,633;5,700,920; 5,792,847 and 6,600,032 and International ApplicationPCT/US2005/019219, filed Jun. 2, 2005 and published as WO 2005/121371 onDec. 22, 2005, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference inits entirety.

In nucleotides having modified sugar moieties, the nucleobase moieties(natural, modified or a combination thereof) are maintained forhybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target.

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds comprise one or morenucleosides having modified sugar moieties. In certain embodiments, themodified sugar moiety is 2′-MOE. In certain embodiments, the 2′-MOEmodified nucleosides are arranged in a gapmer motif. In certainembodiments, the modified sugar moiety is a bicyclic nucleoside having a(4′-CH(CH₃)—O-2′) bridging group. In certain embodiments, the(4′-CH(CH₃)—O-2′) modified nucleosides are arranged throughout the wingsof a gapmer motif.

Modified Nucleobases

Nucleobase (or base) modifications or substitutions are structurallydistinguishable from, yet functionally interchangeable with, naturallyoccurring or synthetic unmodified nucleobases. Both natural and modifiednucleobases are capable of participating in hydrogen bonding. Suchnucleobase modifications can impart nuclease stability, binding affinityor some other beneficial biological property to antisense compounds.Modified nucleobases include synthetic and natural nucleobases such as,for example, 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C). Certain nucleobasesubstitutions, including 5-methylcytosine substitutions, areparticularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of an antisensecompound for a target nucleic acid.

For example, 5-methylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increasenucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C. (Sanghvi, Y. S., Crooke, S.T. and Lebleu, B., eds., Antisense Research and Applications, CRC Press,Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 276-278).

Additional modified nucleobases include 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine,xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkylderivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivativesof adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine,5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl (—C—C—CH3) uracil and cytosine andother alkynyl derivatives of pyrimidine bases, 6-azo uracil, cytosineand thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino,8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines andguanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine and7-methyladenine, 2-F-adenine, 2-aminoadenine, 8-azaguanine and8-azaadenine, 7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and3-deazaadenine.

Heterocyclic base moieties can also include those in which the purine orpyrimidine base is replaced with other heterocycles, for example7-deaza-adenine, 7-deazaguanosine, 2-aminopyridine and 2-pyridone.Nucleobases that are particularly useful for increasing the bindingaffinity of antisense compounds include 5-substituted pyrimidines,6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and O-6 substituted purines, including 2aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine.

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds targeted to a P23H rhodopsinnucleic acid comprise one or more modified nucleobases. In certainembodiments, shortened or gap-widened antisense oligonucleotidestargeted to a P23H rhodopsin nucleic acid comprise one or more modifiednucleobases. In certain embodiments, the modified nucleobase is5-methylcytosine. In certain embodiments, each cytosine is a5-methylcytosine.

Conjugated Antisense Compounds

Antisense compounds may be covalently linked to one or more moieties orconjugates which enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellularuptake of the resulting antisense oligonucleotides. Typical conjugategroups include cholesterol moieties and lipid moieties. Additionalconjugate groups include carbohydrates, phospholipids, biotin,phenazine, folate, phenanthridine, anthraquinone, acridine,fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, and dyes.

Antisense compounds can also be modified to have one or more stabilizinggroups that are generally attached to one or both termini of antisensecompounds to enhance properties such as, for example, nucleasestability. Included in stabilizing groups are cap structures. Theseterminal modifications protect the antisense compound having terminalnucleic acid from exonuclease degradation, and can help in deliveryand/or localization within a cell. The cap can be present at the5′-terminus (5′-cap), or at the 3′-terminus (3′-cap), or can be presenton both termini. Cap structures are well known in the art and include,for example, inverted deoxy abasic caps. Further 3′ and 5′-stabilizinggroups that can be used to cap one or both ends of an antisense compoundto impart nuclease stability include those disclosed in WO 03/004602published on Jan. 16, 2003.

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds, including, but not limitedto those particularly suited for use as ssRNA, are modified byattachment of one or more conjugate groups. In general, conjugate groupsmodify one or more properties of the attached oligonucleotide, includingbut not limited to pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, stability,binding, absorption, cellular distribution, cellular uptake, charge andclearance. Conjugate groups are routinely used in the chemical arts andare linked directly or via an optional conjugate linking moiety orconjugate linking group to a parent compound such as an oligonucleotide.Conjugate groups includes without limitation, intercalators, reportermolecules, polyamines, polyamides, polyethylene glycols, thioethers,polyethers, cholesterols, thiocholesterols, cholic acid moieties,folate, lipids, phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, phenanthridine,anthraquinone, adamantane, acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarinsand dyes. Certain conjugate groups have been described previously, forexample: cholesterol moiety (Letsinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA, 1989, 86, 6553-6556), cholic acid (Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med.Chem. Let., 1994, 4, 1053-1060), a thioether, e.g., hexyl-S-tritylthiol(Manoharan et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1992, 660, 306-309; Manoharanet al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1993, 3, 2765-2770), a thiocholesterol(Oberhauser et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1992, 20, 533-538), an aliphaticchain, e.g., do-decan-diol or undecyl residues (Saison-Behmoaras et al.,EMBO J., 1991, 10, 1111-1118; Kabanov et al., FEBS Lett., 1990, 259,327-330; Svinarchuk et al., Biochimie, 1993, 75, 49-54), a phospholipid,e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethyl-ammonium1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate (Manoharan et al.,Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651-3654; Shea et al., Nucl. Acids Res.,1990, 18, 3777-3783), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain(Manoharan et al., Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 1995, 14, 969-973), oradamantane acetic acid (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36,3651-3654), a palmityl moiety (Mishra et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta,1995, 1264, 229-237), or an octadecylamine orhexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety (Crooke et al., J. Pharmacol.Exp. Ther., 1996, 277, 923-937).

For additional conjugates including those useful for ssRNA and theirplacement within antisense compounds, see e.g., U.S. Application No.61/583,963.

In Vitro Testing of Antisense Oligonucleotides

Described herein are methods for treatment of cells with antisenseoligonucleotides, which can be modified appropriately for treatment withother antisense compounds.

Cells may be treated with antisense oligonucleotides when the cellsreach approximately 60-80% confluency in culture.

One reagent commonly used to introduce antisense oligonucleotides intocultured cells includes the cationic lipid transfection reagentLIPOFECTIN (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). Antisense oligonucleotidesmay be mixed with LIPOFECTIN in OPTI-MEM 1 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad,Calif.) to achieve the desired final concentration of antisenseoligonucleotide and a LIPOFECTIN concentration that may range from 2 to12 ug/mL per 100 nM antisense oligonucleotide.

Another reagent used to introduce antisense oligonucleotides intocultured cells includes LIPOFECTAMINE (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.).Antisense oligonucleotide is mixed with LIPOFECTAMINE in OPTI-MEM 1reduced serum medium (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) to achieve thedesired concentration of antisense oligonucleotide and a LIPOFECTAMINEconcentration that may range from 2 to 12 ug/mL per 100 nM antisenseoligonucleotide.

Another technique used to introduce antisense oligonucleotides intocultured cells includes electroporation.

Yet another technique used to introduce antisense oligonucleotides intocultured cells includes free uptake of the oligonucleotides by thecells.

Cells are treated with antisense oligonucleotides by routine methods.Cells may be harvested 16-24 hours after antisense oligonucleotidetreatment, at which time RNA or protein levels of target nucleic acidsare measured by methods known in the art and described herein. Ingeneral, when treatments are performed in multiple replicates, the dataare presented as the average of the replicate treatments.

The concentration of antisense oligonucleotide used varies from cellline to cell line. Methods to determine the optimal antisenseoligonucleotide concentration for a particular cell line are well knownin the art. Antisense oligonucleotides are typically used atconcentrations ranging from 1 nM to 300 nM when transfected withLIPOFECTAMINE. Antisense oligonucleotides are used at higherconcentrations ranging from 625 to 20,000 nM when transfected usingelectroporation.

RNA Isolation

RNA analysis can be performed on total cellular RNA or poly(A)+ mRNA.Methods of RNA isolation are well known in the art. RNA is preparedusing methods well known in the art, for example, using the TRIZOLReagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) according to the manufacturer'srecommended protocols.

Compositions and Methods for Formulating Pharmaceutical Compositions

Antisense compounds may be admixed with pharmaceutically acceptableactive or inert substances for the preparation of pharmaceuticalcompositions or formulations. Compositions and methods for theformulation of pharmaceutical compositions are dependent upon a numberof criteria, including, but not limited to, route of administration,extent of disease, or dose to be administered.

An antisense compound targeted to P23H rhodopsin nucleic acid can beutilized in pharmaceutical compositions by combining the antisensecompound with a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier.In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent is water,such as sterile water suitable for injection. Accordingly, in oneembodiment, employed in the methods described herein is a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising an antisense compound targeted to P23H rhodopsinnucleic acid and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent. In certainembodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable diluent is water. Incertain embodiments, the antisense compound is an antisenseoligonucleotide provided herein.

Pharmaceutical compositions comprising antisense compounds encompass anypharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, orany other oligonucleotide which, upon administration to an animal,including a human, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) thebiologically active metabolite or residue thereof. Accordingly, forexample, the disclosure is also drawn to pharmaceutically acceptablesalts of antisense compounds, prodrugs, pharmaceutically acceptablesalts of such prodrugs, and other bioequivalents. Suitablepharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to,sodium and potassium salts.

A prodrug can include the incorporation of additional nucleosides at oneor both ends of an antisense compound which are cleaved by endogenousnucleases within the body, to form the active antisense compound.

In certain embodiments, the compounds or compositions further comprise apharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

EXAMPLES

The Examples below describe the screening process to identify leadcompounds targeted to P23H mutant rhodopsin. Out of over 400 antisenseoligonucleotides that were screened, ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS664867, and ISIS 664884 emerged as the top lead compounds. Inparticular, ISIS 664844 exhibited the best combination of properties interms of potency, tolerability, and selectivity for P23H rhodopsin outof over 400 antisense oligonucleotides.

Non-Limiting Disclosure and Incorporation by Reference

While certain compounds, compositions and methods described herein havebeen described with specificity in accordance with certain embodiments,the following examples serve only to illustrate the compounds describedherein and are not intended to limit the same. Each of the referencesrecited in the present application is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

Although the sequence listing accompanying this filing identifies eachsequence as either “RNA” or “DNA” as required, in reality, thosesequences may be modified with any combination of chemicalmodifications. One of skill in the art will readily appreciate that suchdesignation as “RNA” or “DNA” to describe modified oligonucleotides is,in certain instances, arbitrary. For example, an oligonucleotidecomprising a nucleoside comprising a 2′-OH sugar moiety and a thyminebase could be described as a DNA having a modified sugar (2′-OH for thenatural 2′-H of DNA) or as an RNA having a modified base (thymine(methylated uracil) for natural uracil of RNA).

Accordingly, nucleic acid sequences provided herein, including, but notlimited to those in the sequence listing, are intended to encompassnucleic acids containing any combination of natural or modified RNAand/or DNA, including, but not limited to such nucleic acids havingmodified nucleobases. By way of further example and without limitation,an oligonucleotide having the nucleobase sequence “ATCGATCG” encompassesany oligonucleotides having such nucleobase sequence, whether modifiedor unmodified, including, but not limited to, such compounds comprisingRNA bases, such as those having sequence “AUCGAUCG” and those havingsome DNA bases and some RNA bases such as “AUCGATCG”.

Example 1: Design and In Vitro Screening of Human Rhodopsin

Antisense oligonucleotides were designed targeting human wild-type orP23H mutant rhodopsin nucleic acid and were tested for their effects onrhodopsin mRNA in vitro. Cell lines either expressing the entirerhodopsin genomic sequence or transfected with a mini gene were used inthe assays. The cell lines are described further in the experiments inthe Examples below. Two hundred and twelve MOE gapmers, with variousmotifs (5-10-5, 6-8-6, 7-6-7, 4-10-4, 5-8-5, 6-6-6, 3-10-3, 4-8-4, and5-6-5) were tested in vitro for potency. Two hundred and two cEtgapmers, as well as gapmers with cEt and MOE modifications, were testedin vitro for potency. Of all these tested gapmers, 104 gapmers weretested in in vitro dose response assays.

The newly designed chimeric antisense oligonucleotides in the Tablebelow were designed as 3-10-3 cEt gapmers. The gapmers are 16nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segment comprises ten2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments on the 5′ directionand the 3′ direction comprising three nucleosides each. Each nucleosidein the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has acEt modification. The internucleoside linkages throughout each gapmerare phosphorothioate (P═S) linkages. All cytosine residues throughouteach gapmer are 5-methylcytosines. “Start site” indicates the 5′-mostnucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted in the human gene sequence.“Stop site” indicates the 3′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer istargeted human gene sequence. ‘Mismatch’ indicates the number ofmismatches the oligonucleotide sequence may have with the genomicsequence. Mismatches of more than 1 were not considered. The gapmers aretargeted to the human rhodopsin genomic sequence, designated herein asSEQ ID NO: 1 (GENBANK Accession No. NT_005612.16 truncated fromnucleotides 35737800 to 35755500 or to the P23H rhodopsin mutantsequence having a cytosine to adenine substitution at position 163 ofGENBANK Accession No. NM_000539.3; designated herein as SEQ ID NO:2representing the mutant sequence), or both sequences. ‘n/a’ indicatesthat the particular oligonucleotide had more than one mismatch with thetarget gene sequence. The gapmers are presented in the Table below.

TABLE 13-10-3 gapmers targeting wild-type Rho (SEQ ID NO: 1) and P23H Rho (SEQ ID NO: 2)SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID ID ID ID NO: 1 NO: 1 Mismatch NO: 2 NO: 2 SEQ ISISStart Stop with SEQ Start Stop ID NO Site Site ID NO: 1 Sequence SiteSite NO 564387 4979 4994 1 AAGTGGCTGCGTACCA  151  166 11 564389 49834998 1 CTCGAAGTGGCTGCGT  155  170 12 564424 4977 4992 1 GTGGCTGCGTACCACA 149  164 13 564425 4981 4996 1 CGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC  153  168 14 5644264985 5000 1 TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC  157  172 15 564283 4898 4913 0CTTGTGGCTGACCCGT   70   85 65 564284 4935 4950 0 GAAGTTAGGGCCTTCT  107 122 66 564393 6112 6127 0 CAGCAGAGATATTCCT n/a n/a 67 564430 8414 84290 CAGGTAGGGAGACCCT n/a n/a 68 564433 8963 8978 0 CACCCGCAGTAGGCAC n/an/a 69 564431 9444 9459 0 AGGAAATTGACTTGCC n/a n/a 70 564338 9851 9866 0AGCAGAGGCCTCATCG 1085 1100 71 564342 9909 9924 0 GAGTCCTAGGCAGGTC 11431158 72 564299 10092 10107 0 GGTGGATGTCCCTTCT 1326 1341 73 564356 1019210207 0 AAAGCAAGAATCCTCG 1426 1441 74 564307 10517 10532 0GCTATTTACAAAGTGC 1751 1766 75 564370 10539 10554 0 ACTAGAATCTGTACAG 17731788 76 564372 10578 10593 0 ATTAACTAGTTACATT 1812 1827 77 564315 1065410669 0 CCAAGGTTGGGTGAAA 1888 1903 78 564388 10757 10772 0GGTCTGATGACTGCAT 1991 2006 79 564325 10791 10806 0 TTCACCGTCCCCCTCC 20252040 80 564329 10824 10839 0 AGGCCCAATCTCACCC 2058 2073 81 564399 1093010945 0 AAGAGCAGGTGGCTTC 2164 2179 82 564349 11048 11063 0CTAAGCTCTTCGAGAT 2282 2297 83 564363 11237 11252 0 AGCAGTTACTGAGGCA 24712486 84 564373 11359 11374 0 CAAAACCCACCACCGT 2593 2608 85 564381 1145611471 0 TTGGCTCTGCTCATTG 2690 2705 86 564422 11465 11480 0CTGTGCTGCTTGGCTC 2699 2714 87

Gapmers were tested at various doses in HEK-293 cells. HEK-293 cellsexpressing the the human genomic P23H rhodopsin sequence as a stabletransfectant were used for these assays. The antisense oligonucleotideswere tested in a series of experiments that had similar cultureconditions. The results for each experiment are presented in separatetables shown below. Cells were plated at a density of 20,000 cells perwell and transfected using electroporation with antisenseoligonucleotide, as specified in the Tables below. After a treatmentperiod of approximately 16 hours, RNA was isolated from the cells andrhodopsin mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Humanprimer probe set RTS3374 (forward sequence GGAGGTCAACAACGAGTCTTTTG,designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 5; reverse sequence GGCCTCCTTGACGGTGAA,designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 6; probe sequenceTTATCATCTTTTTCTGCTATGGGCAGCTCG, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 7) wasused to measure mRNA levels. Rhodopsin mRNA levels were adjustedaccording to total RNA content, as measured by RIBOGREEN®. Results arepresented as percent inhibition of rhodopsin, relative to untreatedcontrol cells.

TABLE 2 Dose Response Inhibition of P23H RHO mRNA levels by 3-10-3 cEtgapmers targeted to SEQ ID NO: 2 1.25 2.50 5.00 10.00 20.00 IC₅₀ ISIS NoμM μM μM μM μM (μM) 564283 12 25 35 22 40 >20 564284 0 0 3 0 44 >20564299 29 30 64 31 11 >20 564307 26 0 28 21 17 >20 564315 10 16 28 1621 >20 564325 44 52 66 81 86 2 564329 0 2 10 16 0 >20 564349 0 0 0 01 >20 564363 17 0 20 13 31 >20 564373 19 17 10 29 38 >20 564381 16 18 3433 42 >20 564387 19 26 39 42 76 7 564389 35 37 39 18 50 >20 564393 17 720 38 40 >20

TABLE 3 Dose Response Inhibition of P23H RHO mRNA levels by 3-10-3 cEtgapmers targeted to SEQ ID NO: 2 1.25 2.50 5.00 10.00 20.00 IC₅₀ ISIS NoμM μM μM μM μM (μM) 564338 0 20 35 19 25 >20 564342 32 31 40 0 36 >20564356 21 18 31 13 0 >20 564370 0 0 15 10 17 >20 564372 0 0 0 0 23 >20564388 0 0 20 27 2 >20 564399 9 0 24 30 35 >20 564422 4 0 20 17 51 9564424 5 0 21 0 0 >20 564425 0 14 17 14 31 >20 564426 1 14 17 21 33 >20564430 0 0 17 25 5 >20 564431 26 29 43 52 43 >20 564433 0 0 13 4 0 >20

Example 2: Design of Antisense Oligonucleotides with Deoxy,2′-Alpha-Fluoro, and cEt Chemistry

Additional antisense oligonucleotides were designed with the samesequence as ISIS 564387 but with different chemistry. The new antisenseoligonucleotides were designed as deoxy, 2′-alpha-fluoro and cEtoligonucleotides.

The ‘Chemistry’ column of the Table below presents chemicalmodifications in the oligonucleotide, including the position of thesugar modifications, wherein ‘e’ indicates a MOE modification, ‘k’indicates a cEt modification, d indicates a deoxyribose sugar, and ‘f’indicates a 2′-alpha-fluoro modification; ‘mC’ indicates5-methycytosine; ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘T’, ‘G’, and ‘U’ represent the standardnucleotide notations. All the oligonucleotides are 15 or 16 nucleosidesin length. The internucleoside linkages throughout each gapmer arephosphorothioate (P═S) linkages. “Start site” indicates the 5′-mostnucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted in the human gene sequence.“Stop site” indicates the 3′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer istargeted human gene sequence. The antisense oligonucleotides weredesigned to target the mutant sequence (SEQ ID NO:2). Theoligonucleotides are presented in the Table below. All theoligonucleotides target nucleotides 151-166 of SEQ ID NO: 2.

TABLE 4 Antisense oligonucleotides targeting the mutant P23Hrhodopsin gene (SEQ ID NO: 2) SEQ ID IsisNo Chemistry NO 564387Aks Aks Gks Tds Gds Gds mCds Tds Gds mCds Gds Tds Ads mCks mCks Ak 11598202Aks Aks Gks Ufs Gds Gds mCds Tds Gds mCds Gds Tds Ads mCks mCks Ak 11598203Aks Aks Gks Tds Gfs Gds mCds Tds Gds mCds Gds Tds Ads mCks mCks Ak 11598204Aks Aks Gks Tds Gds Gfs mCds Tds Gds mCds Gds Tds Ads mCks mCks Ak 11598205 Aks Aks Gks Tds Gds Gds Cfs Tds Gds mCds Gds Tds Ads mCks mCks Ak11 598206Aks Aks Gks Tds Gds Gds mCds Ufs Gds mCds Gds Tds Ads mCks mCks Ak 11598207Aks Aks Gks Tds Gds Gds mCds Tds Gfs mCds Gds Tds Ads mCks mCks Ak 11598208 Aks Aks Gks Tds Gds Gds mCds Tds Gds Cfs Gds Tds Ads mCks mCks Ak11 598209Aks Aks Gks Tds Gds Gds mCds Tds Gds mCds Gfs Tds Ads mCks mCks Ak 11598210Aks Aks Gks Tds Gds Gds mCds Tds Gds mCds Gds Ufs Ads mCks mCks Ak 11598211Aks Aks Gks Tds Gds Gds mCds Tds Gds mCds Gds Tds Afs mCks mCks Ak 11

Example 3: Antisense Inhibition of Mutant P23H Human Rhodopsin

Additional antisense oligonucleotides were designed targeting thesequence region around the P23H mutation site of the rhodopsin gene andwere tested for their effects on mutant rhodopsin mRNA in vitro. Theantisense oligonucleotides were tested in a series of experiments thathad similar culture conditions. The results for each experiment arepresented in separate tables shown below. Cultured HEK293 transfectedwith a SOD1 minigene containing mutant P23H rhodopsin were used in thisassay.

The SOD1 minigene contains the unspliced sequence of SOD1 exon 4, intron4, and exon 5, with a human rhodopsin sequence with the mutation atP23H. Each sequence was cloned into pcDNA4/TO at HindIII/EcoRI site.

HEK-293 cells with the SOD1 minigene containing mutant P23H rhodopsinwere transfected using electroporation with 5 μM or 20 μM antisenseoligonucleotide. ISIS 564425, described in the study above, was alsoincluded in the assay. After a treatment period of approximately 24hours, RNA was isolated from the cells and rhodopsin mRNA levels weremeasured by quantitative real-time PCR. Human primer probe set RTS4220(forward sequence CACTATAGGGAGACCCAAGC, designated herein as SEQ ID NO:8; reverse sequence CTGCTTTTTCATGGACCACCA, designated herein as SEQ IDNO: 9; probe sequence CAAAGATGGTGTGGCCG, designated herein as SEQ ID NO:10), which is targeted to the P23H site, was used to measure mRNAlevels. Rhodopsin mRNA levels were adjusted according to total RNAcontent, as measured by RIBOGREEN®. Results are presented as percentinhibition of rhodopsin, relative to untreated control cells.

The newly designed chimeric antisense oligonucleotides in the Tablebelow were designed as 3-10-3 cEt gapmers, 3-9-3 cEt gapmers, deoxy, MOEand cEt oligonucleotides, or deoxy, 2′-alpha-fluoro and cEtoligonucleotides. The ‘Chemistry’ column of the Table below presentschemical modifications in the oligonucleotide, including the position ofthe sugar modifications, wherein ‘e’ indicates a MOE modification, 1′indicates a cEt modification, d indicates a deoxyribose sugar, and ‘f’indicates a 2′-alpha-fluoro modification; ‘mC’ indicates5-methycytosine; ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘T’, ‘G’, and ‘U’ represent the standardnucleotide notations. All the oligonucleotides are 15 or 16 nucleosidesin length. The internucleoside linkages throughout each gapmer arephosphorothioate (P═S) linkages. “Start site” indicates the 5′-mostnucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted in the human gene sequence.“Stop site” indicates the 3′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer istargeted human gene sequence. The antisense oligonucleotides weredesigned to target the mutant P23H sequence (SEQ ID NO:2). Theoligonucleotides are presented in the Table below.

TABLE 5Inhibition of P23H rhodopsin mRNA by antisense oligonucleotides targeting the mutant rhodopsingene (SEQ ID NO: 2) SEQ SEQ ID ID % % NO: 2 NO: 2 inhib- inhib- SEQ ISISStart Stop ition ition ID NO Site Site Chemistry Sequence (5 μm) (20 μm)NO 564425 153 168 mCkGkAkAdGdTdGdGdmCdT CGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC 62 72 14dGdmCdGdTkAkmCk 598206 151 166 AkAkGkTdGdGdmCdUfGdmCd AAGTGGCUGCGTACCA55 89 62 GdTdAdmCkmCkAk 664823 149 164 GkTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCdGdTdGTGGCTGCGTACCACA  6 52 13 AdmCkmCeAkmCeAk 664824 150 165AkGdTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCdG AGTGGCTGCGTACCAC 50 77 16 dTdAkmCemCkAemCk 664825151 166 AkAdGdTdGdGdmCdTdGdmC AAGTGGCTGCGTACCA 39 62 11 dGdTkAemCkmCeAk664826 152 167 GkAdAdGdTdGdGdmCdTdGd GAAGTGGCTGCGTACC 46 66 17mCdGkTeAkmCemCk 664827 153 168 mCkGdAdAdGdTdGdGdmCdT CGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC 5352 14 dGdmCkGeTkAemCk 664828 154 169 TkmCdGdAdAdGdTdGdGdmCTCGAAGTGGCTGCGTA 40 66 18 dTdGkmCeGkTeAk 664829 155 170mCkTdmCdGdAdAdGdTdGdG CTCGAAGTGGCTGCGT 35 59 12 dmCdTkGemCkGeTk 664830156 171 AkmCdTdmCdGdAdAdGdTdG ACTCGAAGTGGCTGCG 38 67 19 dGdmCkTeGkmCeGk664831 157 172 TkAdmCdTdmCdGdAdAdGdTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 39 63 15GdGkmCeTkGemCk 664832 158 173 GkTdAdmCdTdmCdGdAdAdG GTACTCGAAGTGGCTG 1051 20 dTdGkGemCkTeGk 664833 159 174 GkGdTdAdmCdTdmCdGdAdAGGTACTCGAAGTGGCT 57 68 21 dGdTkGeGkmCeTk 664834 149 164GkTkGdGdmCdTdGdmCdGdTd GTGGCTGCGTACCACA 33 50 13 AdmCdmCkAemCkAe 664835150 165 AkGkTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCdG AGTGGCTGCGTACCAC 39 75 16 dTdAdmCkmCeAkmCe664836 151 166 AkAkGdTdGdGdmCdTdGdmC AAGTGGCTGCGTACCA 56 76 11dGdTdAkmCemCkAe 664837 152 167 GkAkAdGdTdGdGdmCdTdGd GAAGTGGCTGCGTACC 4872 17 mCdGdTkAemCkmCe 664838 153 168 mCkGkAdAdGdTdGdGdmCdTCGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC 38 84 14 dGdmCdGkTeAkmCe 664839 154 169TkmCkGdAdAdGdTdGdGdmC TCGAAGTGGCTGCGTA 49 72 18 dTdGdmCkGeTkAe 664840155 170 mCkTkmCdGdAdAdGdTdGdG CTCGAAGTGGCTGCGT 55 61 12 dmCdTdGkmCeGkTe664841 156 171 AkmCkTdmCdGdAdAdGdTdG ACTCGAAGTGGCTGCG 47 68 19dGdmCdTkGemCkGe 664842 157 172 TkAkmCdTdmCdGdAdAdGdTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC48 72 15 GdGdmCkTeGkmCe 664843 158 173 GkTkAdmCdTdmCdGdAdAdGGTACTCGAAGTGGCTG 64 73 20 dTdGdGkmCeTkGe 664844 159 174GkGkTdAdmCdTdmCdGdAdA GGTACTCGAAGTGGCT 61 64 21 dGdTdGkGemCkTe 664845149 164 GkTkGdGdmCdTdGdmCdGdTd GTGGCTGCGTACCACA 10 45 13 AdmCkmCeAkmCeAk664846 150 165 AkGkTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCdG AGTGGCTGCGTACCAC 58 69 16dTdAkmCemCkAemCk 664847 151 166 AkAkGdTdGdGdmCdTdGdmC AAGTGGCTGCGTACCA41 56 11 dGdTkAemCkmCeAk 664848 152 167 GkAkAdGdTdGdGdmCdTdGdGAAGTGGCTGCGTACC 49 66 17 mCdGkTeAkmCemCk 664849 153 168mCkGkAdAdGdTdGdGdmCdT CGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC 57 72 14 dGdmCkGeTkAemCk 664850154 169 TkmCkGdAdAdGdTdGdGdmC TCGAAGTGGCTGCGTA 42 65 18 dTdGkmCeGkTeAk664851 155 170 mCkTkmCdGdAdAdGdTdGdG CTCGAAGTGGCTGCGT 20 59 12dmCdTkGemCkGeTk 664852 156 171 AkmCkTdmCdGdAdAdGdTdG ACTCGAAGTGGCTGCG 4257 19 dGdmCkTeGkmCeGk 664853 157 172 TkAkmCdTdmCdGdAdAdGdTdTACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 43 67 15 GdGkmCeTkGemCk 664854 158 173GkTkAdmCdTdmCdGdAdAdG GTACTCGAAGTGGCTG 34 55 20 dTdGkGemCkTeGk 664855159 174 GkGkTdAdmCdTdmCdGdAdA GGTACTCGAAGTGGCT 48 63 21 dGdTkGeGkmCeTk664856 149 164 GkTkGkGdmCdTdGdmCdGdTd GTGGCTGCGTACCACA 20 43 13AdmCdmCkAemCkAe 664857 150 165 AkGkTkGdGdmCdTdGdmCdG AGTGGCTGCGTACCAC  037 16 dTdAdmCkmCeAkmCe 664858 151 166 AkAkGkTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCAAGTGGCTGCGTACCA 52 81 11 dGdTdAkmCemCkAe 664859 152 167GkAkAkGdTdGdGdmCdTdGd GAAGTGGCTGCGTACC 52 74 17 mCdGdTkAemCkmCe 664860153 168 mCkGkAkAdGdTdGdGdmCdT CGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC 56 74 14 dGdmCdGkTeAkmCe664861 154 169 TkmCkGkAdAdGdTdGdGdmC TCGAAGTGGCTGCGTA 33 58 18dTdGdmCkGeTkAe 664862 155 170 mCkTkmCkGdAdAdGdTdGdG CTCGAAGTGGCTGCGT 3964 12 dmCdTdGkmCeGkTe 664863 156 171 AkmCkTkmCdGdAdAdGdTdGACTCGAAGTGGCTGCG 45 70 19 dGdmCdTkGemCkGe 664864 157 172TkAkmCkTdmCdGdAdAdGdTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 49 69 15 GdGdmCkTeGkmCe 664865158 173 GkTkAkmCdTdmCdGdAdAdG GTACTCGAAGTGGCTG 54 67 20 dTdGdGkmCeTkGe664866 159 174 GkGkTkAdmCdTdmCdGdAdA GGTACTCGAAGTGGCT 54 64 21dGdTdGkGemCkTe 664867 157 172 TkAkmCkUfmCdGdAdAdGdTd TACUCGAAGTGGCTGC 6676 64 GdGdmCdTkGkmCk 664868 157 172 TkAkmCkTdCfGdAdAdGdTdGTACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 54 69 15 dGdmCdTkGkmCk 664869 157 172TkAkmCkTdmCdGfAdAdGdTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 53 69 15 GdGdmCdTkGkmCk 664870157 172 TkAkmCkTdmCdGdAfAdGdTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 54 69 15 GdGdmCdTkGkmCk664871 157 172 TkAkmCkTdmCdGdAdAfGdTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 45 68 15GdGdmCdTkGkmCk 664872 157 172 TkAkmCkTdmCdGdAdAdGfTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 4672 15 GdGdmCdTkGkmCk 664873 157 172 TkAkmCkTdmCdGdAdAdGdUfTACTCGAAGUGGCTGC 42 72 63 GdGdmCdTkGkmCk 664874 157 172TkAkmCkTdmCdGdAdAdGdTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 48 69 15 GfGdmCdTkGkmCk 664875157 172 TkAkmCkTdmCdGdAdAdGdTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 44 66 15 GdGfmCdTkGkmCk664876 157 172 TkAkmCkTdmCdGdAdAdGdTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 69 77 15GdGdCfTkGkmCk 664877 150 164 GkTkGdGdmCdTdGdmCdGdTd GTGGCTGCGTACCAC  943 22 AdmCdmCkAemCk 664878 151 165 AkGkTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCdG AGTGGCTGCGTACCA45 82 23 dTdAdmCkmCeAk 664879 152 166 AkAkGdTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCAAGTGGCTGCGTACC 41 72 24 dGdTdAkmCemCk 664880 153 167GkAkAdGdTdGdGdmCdTdGd GAAGTGGCTGCGTAC 29 58 25 mCdGdTkAemCk 664881 154168 mCkGkAdAdGdTdGdGdmCdT CGAAGTGGCTGCGTA 35 63 26 dGdmCdGkTeAk 664882155 169 TkmCkGdAdAdGdTdGdGdmC TCGAAGTGGCTGCGT 40 63 27 dTdGdmCkGeTk664883 156 170 mCkTkmCdGdAdAdGdTdGdG CTCGAAGTGGCTGCG 21 67 28dmCdTdGkmCeGk 664884 157 171 AkmCkTdmCdGdAdAdGdTdG ACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 53 7829 dGdmCdTkGemCk 664885 158 172 TkAkmCdTdmCdGdAdAdGdTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTG49 78 30 GdGdmCkTeGk 664886 159 173 GkTkAdmCdTdmCdGdAdAdGGTACTCGAAGTGGCT 51 64 31 dTdGdGkmCeTk 664887 160 174GkGkTdAdmCdTdmCdGdAdA GGTACTCGAAGTGGC 64 76 32 dGdTdGkGemCk 664899 150164 GkTkGkGdmCdTdGdmCdGdTd GTGGCTGCGTACCAC  0 13 22 AdmCdmCkAkmCk 664900151 165 AkGkTkGdGdmCdTdGdmCdG AGTGGCTGCGTACCA 52 81 23 dTdAdmCkmCkAk664901 152 166 AkAkGkTdGdGdmCdTdGdmC AAGTGGCTGCGTACC 52 84 24dGdTdAkmCkmCk 664902 153 167 GkAkAkGdTdGdGdmCdTdGd GAAGTGGCTGCGTAC 41 7725 mCdGdTkAkmCk 664903 154 168 mCkGkAkAdGdTdGdGdmCdT CGAAGTGGCTGCGTA 6480 26 dGdmCdGkTkAk 664904 155 169 TkmCkGkAdAdGdTdGdGdmC TCGAAGTGGCTGCGT43 45 27 dTdGdmCkGkTk 664905 156 170 mCkTkmCkGdAdAdGdTdGdGCTCGAAGTGGCTGCG 48 68 28 dmCdTdGkmCkGk 664906 157 171AkmCkTkmCdGdAdAdGdTdG ACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 59 77 29 dGdmCdTkGkmCk 664907 158172 TkAkmCkTdmCdGdAdAdGdTd TACTCGAAGTGGCTG 51 71 30 GdGdmCkTkGk 664908159 173 GkTkAkmCdTdmCdGdAdAdG GTACTCGAAGTGGCT 55 67 31 dTdGdGkmCkTk664909 160 174 GkGkTkAdmCdTdmCdGdAdA GGTACTCGAAGTGGC 65 69 32dGdTdGkGkmCk

Example 4: Potency and Selectivity of Antisense OligonucleotidesTargeting the Mutant P23H Rhodopsin Gene

Antisense oligonucleotides from Example 3 exhibiting potent in vitroinhibition of the mutant P23H rhodopsin mRNA were selected and tested atvarious doses in HEK-293 cells transfected with either the mutant P23H(E5-M) or wild type (E5-C) rhodopsin/SOD1 minigene construct.

The antisense oligonucleotides were tested in a series of experimentsthat had similar culture conditions. The results for each experiment arepresented in separate tables shown below. Cells were transfected usingelectroporation with 1.25 μM, 2.50 μM, 5.00 μM, 10.00 μM, and 20 μMconcentrations of antisense oligonucleotide, as specified in the Tablesbelow. After a treatment period of approximately 16 hours, RNA wasisolated from the cells and rhodopsin mRNA levels were measured byquantitative real-time PCR. Human primer probe set RTS4220 was used tomeasure mRNA levels. Rhodopsin mRNA levels were adjusted according tototal RNA content, as measured by RIBOGREEN®. Results are presented aspercent inhibition of rhodopsin, relative to untreated control cells.

The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each oligonucleotideis also presented. Several antisense oligonucleotides selectivelyinhibited expression of the mutant P23H rhodopsin sequence compared tothe WT sequence.

TABLE 6 Percent inhibition of wild-type rhodopsin mRNA in WT HEK293cells (E5-C) 1.250 2.50 5.00 10.00 20.00 IC₅₀ ISIS No μM μM μM μM μM(μM) 598206 2 20 34 44 58 13 664833 0 8 0 24 18 >20 664836 0 13 7 2939 >20 664843 0 2 14 20 13 >20 664844 0 2 12 16 6 >20 664846 0 8 14 3352 19 664849 0 0 4 0 5 >20 664860 0 0 0 0 3 >20 664867 0 12 8 29 33 >20664876 2 1 20 17 41 >20 664887 0 0 14 14 0 >20 664903 0 0 2 9 0 >20664906 5 2 35 19 44 >20 664909 0 6 9 4 4 >20

TABLE 7 Percent inhibition of P23H rhodopsin mRNA in mutant HEK293 cells(E5-M) 1.250 2.50 5.00 10.00 20.00 IC₅₀ ISIS No μM μM μM μM μM (μM)598206 24 45 56 74 83 4 664833 11 37 49 60 66 6 664836 8 37 40 58 70 8664843 40 42 48 62 61 5 664844 36 50 51 65 59 3 664846 0 17 31 45 63 12664849 21 41 58 49 60 9 664860 21 43 54 60 72 4 664867 40 47 52 61 69 3664876 2 27 58 67 67 4 664887 49 51 60 66 68 2 664903 40 48 58 72 73 3664906 32 46 47 61 67 5 664909 28 47 58 60 54 3

TABLE 8 Percent inhibition of wild-type rhodopsin mRNA in WT HEK293cells (E5-C) 1.250 2.50 5.00 10.00 20.00 IC₅₀ ISIS No μM μM μM μM μM(μM) 598206 0 15 31 51 60 10 664824 1 12 25 38 47 >20 664835 0 2 13 2452 19 664838 0 2 0 23 26 >20 664840 8 13 23 22 40 >20 664848 0 0 10 614 >20 664858 9 22 21 48 51 17 664878 5 1 20 33 60 16 664884 6 10 19 3050 >20 664885 0 0 0 22 0 >20 664900 16 28 31 45 55 15 664901 13 11 26 4556 14 664902 0 3 0 22 19 >20 664908 0 15 4 18 14 >20

TABLE 9 Percent inhibition of P23H rhodopsin mRNA in mutant HEK293 cells(E5-M) 1.250 2.50 5.00 10.00 20.00 IC₅₀ ISIS No μM μM μM μM μM (μM)598206 30 44 58 72 84 3 664824 21 36 45 59 62 7 664835 1 16 29 36 66 11664838 6 27 33 47 63 11 664840 3 45 29 35 62 14 664848 10 16 35 51 59 11664858 55 58 53 62 70 4 664878 6 32 47 51 72 7 664884 28 37 51 57 68 6664885 6 10 20 51 69 11 664900 44 51 52 65 71 2 664901 42 50 53 68 70 3664902 0 27 38 57 64 8 664908 30 45 49 57 58 6

Example 5: Characterization of Potency and Selectivity of HumanAntisense Compounds Targeting Mutant P23H Rhodopsin

Several additional antisense oligonucleotides were designed to targetthe mutant P23H rhodopsin gene and were transfected into either mutantP23H rhodopsin (E5-M) or wild type (E5-C) rhodopsin/SOD1 minigene HEK293cells. The SOD1 minigene sequence contains the unspliced sequence ofSOD1 exon 4, intron 4, and exon 5, with the human wild-type rhodopsin ora rhodopsin sequence with the mutation at P23H. Each sequence was clonedinto pcDNA4/TO at HindIII/EcoRI site.

Study 1

The newly designed chimeric antisense oligonucleotides in the Tablebelow were designed as deoxy, MOE and cEt oligonucleotides with a 7 or 8base deoxy gap Antisense oligonucleotides having a 7 or 8 base deoxy gapare potent and selective for targeting the SNP mutation of thehungtingtin (HTT) gene. Ostergaard M E et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 2013November; 41(21):9634-50; PCT Publication WO 2013/022990. It wasexpected that antisense oligonucleotides having a 7 or 8 base deoxy gaplikewise would potently and selectively target P23H rhodopsin.

The ‘Chemistry’ column of the Table below presents chemicalmodifications in the oligonucleotide, including the position of thesugar modifications, wherein ‘e’ indicates a MOE modification, ‘k’indicates a cEt modification, and the number indicates the number ofdeoxyribose sugars. All the oligonucleotides are 16 nucleosides inlength. The internucleoside linkages throughout each gapmer arephosphorothioate (P═S) linkages. All cytosines are 5-methylcytosines.“Start site” indicates the 5′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer istargeted in the human gene sequence. “Stop site” indicates the 3′-mostnucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted human gene sequence. Theantisense oligonucleotides were designed to target the human mutant P23Hrhodopsin sequence (SEQ ID NO:2). The oligonucleotides are presented inthe Table below.

TABLE 10Antisense oligonucleotides targeting mutant P23H rhodopsin (SEQ ID NO: 2)SEQ SEQ ID ID NO: 2 NO: 2 ISIS Start Stop SEQ ID No Site Site SequenceChemistry NO 589177 148 163 TGGCTGCGTACCACAC eekk-8-kkee 33 589193 148163 TGGCTGCGTACCACAC eeekk-7-kkee 33 589178 149 164 GTGGCTGCGTACCACAeekk-8-kkee 13 589194 149 164 GTGGCTGCGTACCACA eeekk-7-kkee 13 589179150 165 AGTGGCTGCGTACCAC eekk-8-kkee 16 589195 150 165 AGTGGCTGCGTACCACeeekk-7-kkee 16 589180 151 166 AAGTGGCTGCGTACCA eekk-8-kkee 11 589196151 166 AAGTGGCTGCGTACCA eeekk-7-kkee 11 589181 152 167 GAAGTGGCTGCGTACCeekk-8-kkee 17 589197 152 167 GAAGTGGCTGCGTACC eeekk-7-kkee 17 589182153 168 CGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC eekk-8-kkee 14 589198 153 168 CGAAGTGGCTGCGTACeeekk-7-kkee 14 589183 154 169 TCGAAGTGGCTGCGTA eekk-8-kkee 18 589199154 169 TCGAAGTGGCTGCGTA eeekk-7kkee 18 589184 155 170 CTCGAAGTGGCTGCGTeekk-8-kkee 12 589200 155 170 CTCGAAGTGGCTGCGT eeekk-7-kkee 12 589185156 171 ACTCGAAGTGGCTGCG eekk-8-kkee 19 589201 156 171 ACTCGAAGTGGCTGCGeeekk-7-kkee 19 589186 157 172 TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC eekk-8-kkee 15 589202157 172 TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC eeekk-7-kkee 15 589187 158 173 GTACTCGAAGTGGCTGeekk-8-kkee 20 589203 158 173 GTACTCGAAGTGGCTG eeekk-7-kkee 20 589188159 174 GGTACTCGAAGTGGCT eekk-8-kkee 21 589204 159 174 GGTACTCGAAGTGGCTeeekk-7-kkee 21 589189 160 175 GGGTACTCGAAGTGGC eekk-8-kkee 34 589205160 175 GGGTACTCGAAGTGGC eeekk-7-kkee 34 589190 161 176 TGGGTACTCGAAGTGGeekk-8-kkee 35 589206 161 176 TGGGTACTCGAAGTGG eeekk-7-kkee 35 589191162 177 GTGGGTACTCGAAGTG eekk-8-kkee 36 589207 162 177 GTGGGTACTCGAAGTGeeekk-7-kkee 36 589192 163 178 TGTGGGTACTCGAAGT eekk-8-kkee 37 589208163 178 TGTGGGTACTCGAAGT eeekk-7-kkee 37

The antisense oligonucleotides were tested in a series of experimentsthat had similar culture conditions. The results for each experiment arepresented in separate tables shown below. ISIS 564387 and ISIS 598206,described in the studies above, were also included in these assays.Cultured cells at a density of 20,000 cells per well were transfectedusing electroporation with antisense oligonucleotide. After a treatmentperiod of approximately 24 hours, RNA was isolated from the cells andrhodopsin mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Humanprimer probe set RTS4220 was used to measure mRNA levels. Rhodopsin mRNAlevels were adjusted according to total RNA content, as measured byRIBOGREEN®. Results are presented as percent inhibition of rhodopsin,relative to untreated control cells. A zero value only indicates thatthe antisense oligonucleotide did not inhibit mRNA expression.

The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each oligonucleotideis also presented. Some antisense oligonucleotides selectively reducedmutant P23H rhodopsin mRNA levels compared to WT rhodopsin expression.

TABLE 11 Percent reduction of mutant P23H rhodopsin mRNA in mutantHEK293 cells (E5-M) IC₅₀ ISIS No 740.7 nM 2222.2 nM 6666.7 nM 20000.0 nM(μM) 564387 34 48 70 83 2 589177 22 29 47 65 8 589178 18 8 7 27 >20589179 10 16 16 33 >20 589180 21 35 56 73 5 589181 20 22 50 67 8 58918231 40 59 72 4 589183 17 44 47 64 7 589184 27 25 40 60 11 589185 1 30 3761 11 589186 21 34 40 62 10 589187 28 37 59 64 5 589188 23 25 53 65 8589189 16 19 48 56 11 589190 20 36 50 64 7 589191 0 20 40 49 17 589192 922 39 54 15 598206 41 54 72 84 1

TABLE 12 Percent reduction of wild-type rhodopsin mRNA in WT HEK293cells (E5-C) IC₅₀ ISIS No 740.7 nM 2222.2 nM 6666.7 nM 20000.0 nM (μM)564387 2 24 40 70 9 589177 14 27 31 64 13 589178 0 5 0 24 >20 589179 016 4 31 >20 589180 18 19 30 48 >20 589181 0 9 15 33 >20 589182 0 10 1215 >20 589183 0 14 0 9 >20 589184 5 0 0 16 >20 589185 3 5 6 3 >20 5891861 15 24 30 >20 589187 13 7 21 28 >20 589188 6 9 12 28 >20 589189 15 5 1838 >20 589190 8 3 5 32 >20 589191 4 7 14 20 >20 589192 0 0 2 34 >20598206 26 18 41 59 12

TABLE 13 Percent reduction of mutant P23H rhodopsin mRNA in mutantHEK293 cells (E5-M) IC₅₀ ISIS No 740.7 nM 2222.2 nM 6666.7 nM 20000.0 nM(μM) 564387 0 51 67 82 2 589193 10 12 28 40 >20 589194 0 11 19 14 >20589195 5 18 20 27 >20 589196 4 20 39 44 >20 589197 16 18 47 44 >20589198 13 28 38 52 17 589199 12 18 31 36 >20 589200 2 11 32 52 20 58920118 23 21 42 >20 589202 10 11 20 29 >20 589203 15 22 36 45 >20 589204 2429 33 52 18 589205 5 19 27 40 >20 589206 6 9 22 39 >20 589207 4 11 25 5120 589208 0 10 10 23 >20 598206 33 53 73 83 2

TABLE 14 Percent reduction of wild-type rhodopsin mRNA in WT HEK293cells (E5-C) IC₅₀ ISIS No 740.7 nM 2222.2 nM 6666.7 nM 20000.0 nM (μM)564387 0 22 40 60 11 589193 0 2 5 38 >20 589194 0 0 8 13 >20 589195 0 49 13 >20 589196 12 0 12 30 >20 589197 14 2 13 20 >20 589198 10 0 1810 >20 589199 2 0 5 0 >20 589200 0 0 0 20 >20 589201 0 0 0 16 >20 5892020 18 0 7 >20 589203 10 6 22 28 >20 589204 0 1 10 17 >20 589205 4 3 411 >20 589206 0 0 3 20 >20 589207 0 0 0 24 >20 589208 2 0 4 14 >20598206 9 8 37 51 17

The summary table is shown below and indicates that only some, muchfewer than expected, antisense oligonucleotides having a 7 or 8 basedeoxy gap potently and selectively reduced mutant P23H rhodopsin mRNAlevels compared to WT levels. The data show that the 7 or 8 base deoxygap motif may not always be effective to potently and selectively targeta mutation from one gene to another.

TABLE 15 Selectivity of antisense oligonucleotides IC₅₀ (μM) in WT IC₅₀(μM) in P23H ISIS No Rho cells Rho cells 564387 11 2 589177 13 8589178 >20 >20 589179 >20 >20 589180 >20 5 589181 >20 8 589182 >20 4589183 >20 7 589184 >20 11 589185 >20 11 589186 >20 10 589187 >20 5589188 >20 8 589189 >20 11 589190 >20 7 589191 >20 17 589192 >20 15589193 >20 >20 589194 >20 >20 589195 >20 >20 589196 >20 >20589197 >20 >20 589198 >20 17 589199 >20 >20 589200 >20 20 589201 >20 >20589202 >20 >20 589203 >20 >20 589204 >20 18 589205 >20 >20589206 >20 >20 589207 >20 20 589208 >20 >20 598206 17 2

Study 2

Antisense oligonucleotides described in the studies above were furthertested. The antisense oligonucleotides were tested in a series ofexperiments that had similar culture conditions. ISIS 549144(GGCCAATACGCCGTCA; designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 89), a 3-10-3 cEtgapmer that does not target any known gene, was used as a control. Theresults for each experiment are presented in separate tables shownbelow. Cultured HEK293 cells at a density of 30,000 cells per well weretransfected using electroporation with antisense oligonucleotide. Aftera treatment period of approximately 24 hours, RNA was isolated from thecells and rhodopsin mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-timePCR. Human primer probe set RTS4220, which is targeted to the SOD1 minigene, was used to measure mRNA levels. Rhodopsin mRNA levels wereadjusted according to total RNA content, as measured by RIBOGREEN®.Results are presented as percent inhibition of rhodopsin, relative tountreated control cells. A zero value only indicates that the antisenseoligonucleotide did not inhibit mRNA expression.

The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each oligonucleotideis also presented. Several antisense oligonucleotides reduced mutantrhodopsin mRNA levels potently and selectively.

TABLE 16 Percent reduction of wild-type rhodopsin mRNA in WT HEK293cells (E5-C) 1.25 2.5 5 10 20 IC₅₀ ISIS No μM μM μM μM μM (μM) 549144 07 0 0 0 >20 598206 2 20 34 44 58 13 664833 0 8 0 24 18 >20 664836 0 13 729 39 >20 664843 0 2 14 20 13 >20 664844 0 2 12 16 6 >20 664846 0 8 1433 52 19 664849 0 0 4 0 5 >20 664860 0 0 0 0 3 >20 664867 0 12 8 2933 >20 664876 2 1 20 17 41 >20 664887 0 0 14 14 0 >20 664903 0 0 2 90 >20 664906 5 2 35 19 44 >20 664909 0 6 9 4 4 >20

TABLE 17 Percent reduction of P23H rhodopsin mRNA in mutant HEK293 cells(E5-M) 1.25 2.5 5 10 20 IC₅₀ ISIS No μM μM μM μM μM (μM) 549144 0 0 0 20 >20 598206 24 45 56 74 83 4 664833 11 37 49 60 66 6 664836 8 37 40 5870 8 664843 40 42 48 62 61 5 664844 36 50 51 65 59 3 664846 0 17 31 4563 12 664849 21 41 58 49 60 9 664860 21 43 54 60 72 4 664867 40 47 52 6169 3 664876 2 27 58 67 67 4 664887 49 51 60 66 68 2 664903 40 48 58 7273 3 664906 32 46 47 61 67 5 664909 28 47 58 60 54 3

TABLE 18 Percent reduction of wild-type rhodopsin mRNA in WT HEK293cells (E5-C) 1.25 2.5 5 10 20 IC₅₀ ISIS No μM μM μM μM μM (μM) 549144 00 0 0 0 >20 598206 0 15 31 51 60 10 664824 1 12 25 38 47 >20 664835 0 213 24 52 19 664838 0 2 0 23 26 >20 664840 8 13 23 22 40 >20 664848 0 010 6 14 >20 664858 9 22 21 48 51 17 664878 5 1 20 33 60 16 664884 6 1019 30 50 >20 664885 0 0 0 22 0 >20 664900 16 28 31 45 55 15 664901 13 1126 45 56 14 664902 0 3 0 22 19 >20 664908 0 15 4 18 14 >20

TABLE 19 Percent reduction of P23H rhodopsin mRNA in mutant HEK293 cells(E5-M) 1.25 2.5 5 10 20 IC₅₀ ISIS No μM μM μM μM μM (μM) 549144 0 0 0 00 >20 598206 30 44 58 72 84 3 664824 21 36 45 59 62 7 664835 1 16 29 3666 11 664838 6 27 33 47 63 11 664840 3 45 29 35 62 14 664848 10 16 35 5159 11 664858 55 58 53 62 70 4 664878 6 32 47 51 72 7 664884 28 37 51 5768 6 664885 6 10 20 51 69 11 664900 44 51 52 65 71 2 664901 42 50 53 6870 3 664902 0 27 38 57 64 8 664908 30 45 49 57 58 6

The summary table is shown below and indicates that some antisenseoligonucleotides, including ISIS 664844, potently and selectivelyreduced mutant rhodopsin mRNA levels compared to WT rhodopsin levels.

TABLE 20 Selectivity of antisense oligonucleotides IC₅₀ (μM) in WT IC₅₀(μM) in P23H ISIS No Rho cells Rho cells 549144 >20 >20 598206 10 3664824 >20 7 664833 >20 6 664835 19 11 664836 >20 8 664838 >20 11664840 >20 14 664843 >20 5 664844 >20 3 664846 19 12 664848 >20 11664849 >20 9 664858 17 4 664860 >20 4 664867 >20 3 664876 >20 4 66487816 7 664884 >20 6 664885 >20 11 664887 >20 2 664900 15 2 664901 14 3664902 >20 8 664903 >20 3 664906 >20 5 664908 >20 6 664909 >20 3

Study 3

Antisense oligonucleotides from the studies described above were furthertested. Two new oligonucleotides were designed and are presented in theTable below.

ISIS 586139 is a 3-10-3 cEt gapmer, wherein the central gap segmentcomprises ten 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments on the5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising three nucleosides each.ISIS 643801 is a 2-10-2 cEt gapmer, wherein the central gap segmentcomprises ten 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments on the5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising two nucleosides each. Eachnucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′ wingsegment has a cEt modification. The internucleoside linkages throughouteach gapmer are phosphorothioate (P═S) linkages. All cytosine residuesthroughout each gapmer are 5-methylcytosines. The internucleosidelinkages throughout each gapmer are phosphorothioate (P═S) linkages.“Start site” indicates the 5′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer istargeted in the human gene sequence. “Stop site” indicates the 3′-mostnucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted human gene sequence. Theantisense oligonucleotides were designed to target the mutant sequence(SEQ ID NO:2). The oligonucleotides are presented in the Table below.

TABLE 21 Antisense oligonucleotides targeting P23Hrhodopsin (SEQ ID NO 2) SEQ SEQ ID ID NO: 2 NO: 2 SEQ ISIS Start Stop IDNo Site Site Sequence NO 586139 158 173 GTACTCGAAGTGGCTG 20 643801 152165 AGTGGCTGCGTACC 38

The antisense oligonucleotides were tested in a series of experimentsthat had similar culture conditions. ISIS 549144 was used as a control.The results for each experiment are presented in separate tables shownbelow. Cultured HEK293 cells having the SOD-1 minigene at a density of30,000 cells per well were transfected using electroporation withantisense oligonucleotide. After a treatment period of approximately 24hours, RNA was isolated from the cells and rhodopsin mRNA levels weremeasured by quantitative real-time PCR. Human primer probe set RTS4220,which is targeted to the SOD1 mini gene, was used to measure mRNAlevels. Rhodopsin mRNA levels were adjusted according to total RNAcontent, as measured by RIBOGREEN®. Results are presented as percentinhibition of rhodopsin, relative to untreated control cells. A zerovalue only indicates that the antisense oligonucleotide did not inhibitmRNA expression.

The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each oligonucleotideis also presented. Several antisense oligonucleotides reduced mutantrhodopsin mRNA levels potently and selectively.

TABLE 22 Percent reduction of wild-type rhodopsin mRNA in WT HEK293cells (E5-C) 0.5 1.5 4.4 13.3 40 IC₅₀ ISIS No μM μM μM μM μM (μM) 5491440 1 0 4 0 >40 564387 0 22 42 59 78 8 564389 0 0 0 33 38 >40 564425 2 0 517 7 >40 564426 10 19 35 45 61 17 564431 0 0 0 0 4 >40 586139 3 20 15 3553 33 589177 37 54 53 62 64 3 643801 0 12 27 53 68 14 664838 0 0 0 1216 >40 664843 0 25 13 41 50 34 664844 0 3 6 10 17 >40 664860 0 0 0 910 >40 664867 0 16 4 44 52 29 664884 3 0 0 43 53 28 664885 0 0 0 3 13>40

TABLE 23 Percent reduction of P23H rhodopsin mRNA in mutant HEK293 cells(E5-M) 0.5 1.5 4.4 13.3 40 IC₅₀ ISIS No μM μM μM μM μM (μM) 549144 0 0 40 10 >40 564387 8 36 69 85 90 3 564389 0 37 64 77 77 3 564425 25 41 4775 80 3 564426 26 43 49 79 80 2 564431 0 0 0 10 17 >40 586139 34 42 6375 83 2 589177 28 33 40 60 64 8 643801 1 27 49 72 88 5 664838 0 16 39 4578 9 664843 23 31 64 76 78 3 664844 29 56 66 75 73 2 664860 11 36 65 7783 3 664867 17 44 64 76 82 3 664884 0 28 54 71 84 5 664885 0 25 53 73 835

The results of studies in mutant and WT cells are summarized in theTable below. The IC₅₀ values show the potency of certainoligonucleotides. The data shows that some oligonucleotides, includingISIS 664844, demonstrate potency and selectivity for the human mutantP23H rhodopsin gene. The sequence of the oligonucleotide with themutation bolded and underlined is also shown.

TABLE 24 IC₅₀ for the WT and P23H mutant cells ISIS Sequence SEQ Nowith mutation WT Mutant ID NO: 564389 CTCGAAG T GGCTGCGT >40 3 12 564426TACTCGAAG T GGCTGC  17 2 15 664844 GGTACTCGAAG T GGCT >40 2 21 664860CGAAG T GGCTGCGTAC >40 3 14 664867 TACUCGAAG T GGCTGC  29 3 64 664884ACTCGAAG T GGCTGC  28 5 29

Example 6: Efficacy of Antisense Oligonucleotides Targeting HumanRhodopsin in Transgenic Mice

Additional antisense oligonucleotides were designed and tested in twotransgenic (Tg) mice models. The germline of these mice were insertedwith a P23H mutant allele from a retinitis pigmentosa patient (Olsson,I. E. et al., Neuron. 1992. 9: 815-830). A total of 144 antisenseoligonucleotides were tested. Not all the antisense oligonucleotidestested demonstrated potency in inhibiting mutant rhodopsin expression.

Study 1

P23HTg mice were treated with ISIS oligonucleotides described in thestudies above. Two newly designed 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeted torhodopsin away from the P23H site, ISIS 564426 and ISIS 564432, werealso included in the study.

TABLE 25 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting human rhodopsin (SEQ ID NO: 1) SEQSEQ ID ID NO: 1 NO: 1 ISIS Start Stop SEQ ID NO Site Site Sequence NO564429 7798 7813 TAAGAAATGGACCCTA 39 564432 8692 8707 CCCGGGTCCAGACCAT40

P23H Tg mice were randomly divided into treatment groups of 3-5 miceeach. The gapmers were injected at a dose of 50 μg via intravitrealinjection in the right eye of each of the mice. The left eye of theanimals was injected with PBS and served as the control. Mice weresacrificed after 7 days. Human P23H rhodopsin expression from eye tissuewas measured with the human-specific primer probe set RTS3363. Theresults are normalized to the expression of mouse cone rod homeobox.Percent inhibition is relative to the expression seen in mice treatedwith PBS. The data are presented in the Table below and demonstrate thatsome antisense oligonucleotides reduced mutant human P23H rhodopsinexpression in vivo.

TABLE 26 % inhibition of human P23H rhodopsin mRNA ISIS No % 564431 89564299 41 564329 38 564363 21 564370 34 564372 15 564373 33 564422 43564429 31 564432 6 564433 7

Study 2

The newly designed chimeric antisense oligonucleotides in the Tablesbelow were designed as 3-10-3 cEt gapmers, 5-7-4 cEt gapmers, 5-10-5 MOEgapmers, 6-8-6 MOE gapmers, 7-6-7 MOE gapmers, 4-10-4 MOE gapmers, 5-8-5MOE gapmers, 4-8-4 MOE gapmers, or 5-6-5 MOE gapmers.

The 3-10-3 cEt gapmers are 16 nucleosides in length, wherein the centralgap segment comprises ten 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wingsegments on the 5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising threenucleosides each. Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and eachnucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has a cEt modification. The 5-7-4 cEtgapmers are 16 nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segmentcomprises seven 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments onthe 5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising five and fournucleosides respectively. Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment andeach nucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has a cEt modification. The5-10-5 MOE gapmers are 20 nucleosides in length, wherein the central gapsegment comprises ten 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wingsegments on the 5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising fivenucleosides each. Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and eachnucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has a MOE modification. The 6-8-6 MOEgapmers are 20 nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segmentcomprises eight 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments onthe 5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising six nucleosides each.Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′wing segment has a MOE modification. The 7-6-7 MOE gapmers are 20nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segment comprises six2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments on the 5′ directionand the 3′ direction comprising seven nucleosides each. Each nucleosidein the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has aMOE modification. The 4-10-4 MOE gapmers are 18 nucleosides in length,wherein the central gap segment comprises ten 2′-deoxynucleosides and isflanked by wing segments on the 5′ direction and the 3′ directioncomprising four nucleosides each. Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segmentand each nucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has a MOE modification. The5-8-5 MOE gapmers are 18 nucleosides in length, wherein the central gapsegment comprises eight 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wingsegments on the 5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising fivenucleosides each. Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and eachnucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has a MOE modification. The 4-8-4 MOEgapmers are 16 nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segmentcomprises eight 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments onthe 5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising four nucleosides each.Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′wing segment has a MOE modification. The 5-6-5 MOE gapmers are 16nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segment comprises six2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments on the 5′ directionand the 3′ direction comprising five nucleosides each. Each nucleosidein the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has aMOE modification.

The internucleoside linkages throughout each gapmer are phosphorothioate(P═S) linkages. All cytosine residues throughout each gapmer are5-methylcytosines. “Start site” indicates the 5′-most nucleoside towhich the gapmer is targeted in the human gene sequence. “Stop site”indicates the 3′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted humangene sequence. The antisense oligonucleotides were designed to targetthe mutant sequence (SEQ ID NO:2).

P23H Tg mice were randomly divided into treatment groups of 3-5 miceeach. The gapmers were injected at a dose of 50 μg via intravitrealinjection in the right eye of each of the mice. The left eye of theanimals was injected with PBS and served as the control. Mice weresacrificed after 7 days. Human rhodopsin expression was measured withthe human-specific primer probe set RTS3363. The results are normalizedto the expression of mouse cone rod homeobox. Percent inhibition isrelative to the expression seen in mice treated with PBS. A ‘0’ valueinhibition only indicates that the oligonucleotide did not inhibitexpression of in this particular instance. The data are presented in theTable below.

TABLE 27 Inhibition of rhodopsin expression in P23H Tg mice SEQ SEQ IDID NO: 2 NO: 2 % SEQ ISIS Start Stop inhib- ID NO Site Site MotifSequence ition NO 564426 157 172 3-10-3 cEt TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 41 15598213 152 167 5-7-4 cEt GAAGTGGCTGCGTACC  0 17 614060 150 1695-10-5 MOE TCGAAGTGGCTGCGTACCAC  6 41 614067 157 176 5-10-5 MOETGGGTACTCGAAGTGGCTGC  0 42 614068 158 177 5-10-5 MOEGTGGGTACTCGAAGTGGCTG  0 43 614074 164 183 5-10-5 MOEAGTACTGTGGGTACTCGAAG  0 44 614075 143 162 6-8-6 MOE GGCTGCGTACCACACCCGTC 9 45 614082 150 169 6-8-6 MOE TCGAAGTGGCTGCGTACCAC  7 41 614083 151 1706-8-6 MOE CTCGAAGTGGCTGCGTACCA  0 46 614089 157 176 6-8-6 MOETGGGTACTCGAAGTGGCTGC  0 42 614105 151 170 7-6-7 MOE CTCGAAGTGGCTGCGTACCA 0 46 614111 157 176 7-6-7 MOE TGGGTACTCGAAGTGGCTGC  0 42 614166 150 1674-10-4 MOE GAAGTGGCTGCGTACCAC  0 47 614167 151 168 4-10-4 MOECGAAGTGGCTGCGTACCA 34 48 614187 151 168 5-8-5 MOE CGAAGTGGCTGCGTACCA  048 614188 152 169 5-8-5 MOE TCGAAGTGGCTGCGTACC  1 49 614194 158 1755-8-5 MOE GGGTACTCGAAGTGGCTG  0 50 614195 159 176 5-8-5 MOETGGGTACTCGAAGTGGCT 11 51 614250 158 173 4-8-4 MOE GTACTCGAAGTGGCTG  5 20614251 159 174 4-8-4 MOE GGTACTCGAAGTGGCT  0 21 614263 153 168 5-6-5 MOECGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC  0 14 614268 158 173 5-6-5 MOE GTACTCGAAGTGGCTG 16 20

Study 3

The newly designed chimeric antisense oligonucleotides in the Tablesbelow were designed as 3-10-3 cEt gapmers, 6-8-6 MOE gapmers, 4-10-4 MOEgapmers, 5-8-5 MOE gapmers, 6-6-6 MOE gapmers, 3-10-3 MOE gapmers, or4-8-4 MOE gapmers.

The 3-10-3 cEt gapmers are 16 nucleosides in length, wherein the centralgap segment comprises ten 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wingsegments on the 5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising threenucleosides each. Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and eachnucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has a cEt modification. The 6-8-6 MOEgapmers are 20 nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segmentcomprises eight 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments onthe 5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising six nucleosides each.Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′wing segment has a MOE modification. The 4-10-4 MOE gapmers are 18nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segment comprises ten2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments on the 5′ directionand the 3′ direction comprising four nucleosides each. Each nucleosidein the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has aMOE modification. The 5-8-5 MOE gapmers are 18 nucleosides in length,wherein the central gap segment comprises eight 2′-deoxynucleosides andis flanked by wing segments on the 5′ direction and the 3′ directioncomprising five nucleosides each. Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segmentand each nucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has a MOE modification. The6-6-6 MOE gapmers are 18 nucleosides in length, wherein the central gapsegment comprises six 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wingsegments on the 5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising sixnucleosides each. Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and eachnucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has a MOE modification. The 3-10-3 MOEgapmers are 16 nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segmentcomprises ten 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments on the5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising three nucleosides each.Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′wing segment has a MOE modification. The 4-8-4 MOE gapmers are 16nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segment comprises eight2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments on the 5′ directionand the 3′ direction comprising four nucleosides each. Each nucleosidein the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has aMOE modification. The internucleoside linkages throughout each gapmerare phosphorothioate (P═S) linkages. All cytosine residues throughouteach gapmer are 5-methylcytosines.

“Start site” indicates the 5′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer istargeted in the human gene sequence. “Stop site” indicates the 3′-mostnucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted human gene sequence. Theantisense oligonucleotides were designed to target the mutant sequence(SEQ ID NO:2).

P23H Tg mice were randomly divided into treatment groups of 3-5 miceeach. The gapmers were injected at a dose of 50 μg via intravitrealinjection in the right eye of each of the mice. The left eye of theanimals was injected with PBS and served as the control. Mice weresacrificed after 7 days. Human rhodopsin expression was measured withthe human-specific primer probe set RTS3363. The results are normalizedto the expression of mouse cone rod homeobox. Percent inhibition isrelative to the expression seen in mice treated with PBS. A ‘0’ valueinhibition only indicates that the oligonucleotide did not inhibitexpression of in this particular instance. The data are presented in theTable below.

TABLE 28 Inhibition of rhodopsin expression in P23H Tg mice SEQ SEQ IDID NO: 2 NO: 2 % SEQ ISIS Start Stop inhib- ID NO Site Site MotiSequence ition NO 614225 151 166 3-10-3 MOE AAGTGGCTGCGTACCA  1 11614208 152 169 6-6-6 MOE TCGAAGTGGCTGCGTACC  0 49 614226 152 1673-10-3 MOE GAAGTGGCTGCGTACC  3 17 614244 152 167 4-8-4 MOEGAAGTGGCTGCGTACC  2 17 614227 153 168 3-10-3 MOE CGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC  0 14614245 153 168 4-8-4 MOE CGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC  0 14 614246 154 169 4-8-4 MOETCGAAGTGGCTGCGTA  0 18 614088 156 175 6-8-6 MOE GGGTACTCGAAGTGGCTGCG  352 614192 156 173 5-8-5 MOE GTACTCGAAGTGGCTGCG  5 53 614193 157 1745-8-5 MOE GGTACTCGAAGTGGCTGC  6 54 614231 157 172 3-10-3 MOETACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 11 15 614232 158 173 3-10-3 MOE GTACTCGAAGTGGCTG 10 20614233 159 174 3-10-3 MOE GGTACTCGAAGTGGCT  0 44 586141 160 1753-10-3 cEt GGGTACTCGAAGTGGC  0 34 586143 162 177 3-10-3 cEtGTGGGTACTCGAAGTG  0 36 614178 162 179 4-10-4 MOE CTGTGGGTACTCGAAGTG 3055 564340 1133 1148 3-10-3 cEt CAGGTCTTAGGCCGGG 20 56

Study 4

The newly designed chimeric antisense oligonucleotides in the Tablesbelow were designed as 3-10-3 cEt gapmers or deoxy, 2′-fluoro and cEtoligonucleotides. The 3-10-3 cEt gapmers are 16 nucleosides in length,wherein the central gap segment comprises ten 2′-deoxynucleosides and isflanked by wing segments on the 5′ direction and the 3′ directioncomprising three nucleosides each. Each nucleoside in the 5′ wingsegment and each nucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has a cEtmodification. The deoxy, 2′-fluoro and cEt oligonucleotides are 16nucleosides in length. The ‘Chemistry’ column of the Table belowpresents the position of the sugar modifications, wherein ‘e’ indicatesa MOE modification, ‘k’ indicates a cEt modification, d indicates adeoxyribose sugar, and T indicates a 2′-alpha-fluoro modification; ‘mC’indicates 5-methycytosine; ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘T’, ‘G’, and ‘U’ represent thestandard nucleotide notations. The internucleoside linkages throughouteach gapmer are phosphorothioate (P═S) linkages.

“Start site” indicates the 5′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer istargeted in the human gene sequence. “Stop site” indicates the 3′-mostnucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted human gene sequence. Thegapmers are targeted to either the human rhodopsin genomic sequence,designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 1 (GENBANK Accession No. NT_005612.16truncated from nucleotides 35737800 to 35755500) or the mutant sequence(SEQ ID NO:2), or both. ‘n/a’ indicates that the antisenseoligonucleotide does not target that particular gene sequence with 100%complementarity.

P23H Tg mice were randomly divided into treatment groups of 3-5 miceeach. ISIS 564340 from the studies described above was also included inthis assay. 3-10-3 cEt gapmers were injected at a dose of 50 μg viaintravitreal injection in the right eye of each of the mice. The lefteye of the animals was injected with PBS and served as the control. Micewere sacrificed after 7 days. Human rhodopsin expression from eye tissuewas measured with the human-specific primer probe set RTS3363. Theresults are normalized to the expression of mouse cone rod homeobox.Percent inhibition is relative to the expression seen in mice treatedwith PBS.

TABLE 29 Inhibition of rhodopsin expression in P23H Tg mice SEQ SEQ IDID % NO: 2 NO: 2 SEQ ISIS inhib- Start Stop ID NO Motif Sequence itionSite Site NO 586138 AkmCkTkmCdGdAdAdGdTdGdGdmCdTdGkmCkGkACTCGAAGTGGCTGCG 24  156  171 19 598204AkAkGkTdGdGfmCdTdGdmCdGdTdAdmCkmCkAk AAGTGGCTGCGTACCA  2  151  166 11598208 AkAkGkTdGdGdmCdTdGdCfGdTdAdmCkmCkAk AAGTGGCTGCGTACCA 15  151  16611 598211 AkAkGkTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCdGdTdAfmCkmCkAk AAGTGGCTGCGTACCA 13  151 166 11 564340 mCkAkGkGdTdmCdTdTdAdGdGdmCdmCdGkGkGk CAGGTCTTAGGCCGGG 211133 1148 56

Study 5

Additional oligonucleotides were designed with the same sequence asantisense oligonucleotides described above but with differentchemistries. The newly designed chimeric antisense oligonucleotides inthe Tables below were designed as 3-10-3 cEt gapmers or deoxy, 2′-fluoroand cEt oligonucleotides. The 3-10-3 cEt gapmers are 16 nucleosides inlength, wherein the central gap segment comprises ten2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments on the 5′ directionand the 3′ direction comprising three nucleosides each. Each nucleosidein the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has acEt modification. The deoxy, 2′-fluoro and cEt oligonucleotides are 16nucleosides in length. The ‘Chemistry’ column of the Table belowpresents the position of the sugar modifications, wherein ‘e’ indicatesa MOE modification, ‘k’ indicates a cEt modification, d indicates adeoxyribose sugar, and ‘f’ indicates a 2′-alpha-fluoro modification;‘mC’ indicates 5-methycytosine; ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘T’, ‘G’, and ‘U’ representthe standard nucleotide notations. The internucleoside linkagesthroughout each gapmer are phosphorothioate (P═S) linkages.

‘Parent oligo’ indicates the ISIS oligonucleotide with the same sequenceas the newly designed oligonucleotide. “Start site” indicates the5′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted in the human genesequence. “Stop site” indicates the 3′-most nucleoside to which thegapmer is targeted human gene sequence. The gapmers are targeted to thehuman mutant P23H sequence (SEQ ID NO:2). ‘n/a’ indicates that theantisense oligonucleotide does not target that particular gene sequencewith 100% complementarity.

TABLE 30 Antisense oligonucleotides targeting SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ SEQ ID IDNO: 2 NO: 2 SEQ ISIS Parent Start Stop ID NO oligo Site Site MotifSequence NO 586136 — 152 167 GkAkAkGdTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCdGdTdAkmCkmCkGAAGTGGCTGCGTACC 17 586137 — 154 169 TkmCkGkAdAdGdTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCdGkTkAkTCGAAGTGGCTGCGTA 18 598212 586136 152 167GkAkAkGkTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCdGdTkAkmCkmCk GAAGTGGCTGCGTACC 17 598214 561125153 168 mCkGkAkAkGdTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCdGkTkAkmCk CGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC 14 598215564425 153 168 mCkGkAkAkGkTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCdGkTkAkmCk CGAAGTGGCTGCGTAC 14598216 586137 154 169 TkmCkGkAkAdGdTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCkGkTkAkTCGAAGTGGCTGCGTA 18 598217 586137 154 169TkmCkGkAkAkGdTdGdGdmCdTdGdmCkGkTkAk TCGAAGTGGCTGCGTA 18 598218 564389155 170 mCkTkmCkGkAdAdGdTdGdGdmCdTdGkmCkGdTk CTCGAAGTGGCTGCGT 12 598219564389 155 170 mCkTkmCkGkAkAdGdTdGdGdmCdTdGkmCkGkTk CTCGAAGTGGCTGCGT 12

P23H Tg mice were randomly divided into treatment groups of 3-5 miceeach. ISIS 564431 and ISIS 598206, described in the studies above werealso included in this assay. The antisense oligonucleotides wereinjected at a dose of 50 μg via intravitreal injection in the right eyeof each of the mice. The left eye of the animals was injected with PBSand served as the control. Mice were sacrificed after 7 days. Humanrhodopsin expression from eye tissue was measured with thehuman-specific primer probe set RTS3363. The results are normalized tothe expression of mouse cone rod homeobox. Percent inhibition isrelative to the expression seen in mice treated with PBS. A ‘0’ valueinhibition only indicates that the oligonucleotide did not inhibitexpression of in this particular instance. The data are presented in theTable below and demonstrate that some antisense oligonucleotides reducedmutant human rhodopsin expression in vivo.

TABLE 31 Percent inhibition of mutant P23H rhodopsin expression ISIS NO% inhibition 564431 64 586136 29 586137 19 598206 51 598209 14 598210 10598212 8 598214 47 598215 10 598216 25 598217 4 598218 20 598219 10

Example 7: Potency and Selectivity of Human Antisense CompoundsTargeting Human Mutant P23H Rhodopsin

Additional antisense oligonucleotides were designed targeting the P23Hsite of human mutant P23H rhodopsin. These oligonucleotides as well asantisense oligonucleotides described in the studies above were furthertested. The oligonucleotides were transfected into either HEK293 cellsexpressing either P23H mutant rhodopsin/SOD1 minigene (E5-M) orwild-type rhodopsin/SOD1 minigene (E5-C).

The new antisense oligonucleotides were designed as 3-10-3 cEt gapmers.The gapmers are 16 nucleosides in length, wherein the central gapsegment comprises ten 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wingsegments on the 5′ direction and the 3′ direction comprising threenucleosides each. Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and eachnucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has a cEt modification. Theinternucleoside linkages throughout each gapmer are phosphorothioate(P═S) linkages.

“Start site” indicates the 5′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer istargeted in the human gene sequence. “Stop site” indicates the 3′-mostnucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted human gene sequence. Thegapmers are targeted to the human mutant P23H sequence (SEQ ID NO:2.‘Mismatch indicates the number of mismatches the oligonucleotide haswith the rhodopsin sequence in addition the to P23H mutation

TABLE 32 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeted to SEQ ID NO: 2 Start Stop SiteSite Mis- on SEQ on SEQ matches SEQ ISIS ID ID with SEQ ID No SequenceNO: 2 NO: 2 ID NO: 2 NO 586125 GGGGCTGCGTACCACA 149 164 1 57 586126AAGGGGCTGCGTACCA 151 166 1 58 586127 CGAAGGGGCTGCGTAC 153 168 1 59586128 CTCGAAGGGGCTGCGT 155 170 1 60 586129 TACTCGAAGGGGCTGC 157 172 161

The antisense oligonucleotides were tested in a series of experimentsthat had similar culture conditions. The results for each experiment arepresented in separate tables shown below. Cultured cells at a density of30,000 cells per well were transfected using electroporation withantisense oligonucleotide. After a treatment period of approximately 24hours, RNA was isolated from the cells and rhodopsin mRNA levels weremeasured by quantitative real-time PCR. Human primer probe set RTS3374was used to measure mRNA levels. Rhodopsin mRNA levels were adjustedaccording to total RNA content, as measured by RIBOGREEN®. Results arepresented as percent inhibition of rhodopsin, relative to untreatedcontrol cells. A zero value only indicates that the antisenseoligonucleotide did not inhibit mRNA expression.

The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each oligonucleotideis also presented. Several antisense oligonucleotides differentiallyreduced mutant rhodopsin mRNA levels compared to WT rhodopsinexpression.

TABLE 33 Percent reduction of wild-type rhodopsin mRNA in WT HEK293cells (E5-C) ISIS No 0.74 μM 2.22 μM 6.67 μM 20.00 μM IC₅₀ (μM) 564389 025 26 67 12 564425 0 16 31 55 16 586136 6 23 54 72 7 586137 0 18 28 5815 598202 25 34 60 79 4 598203 10 26 43 69 8 598204 12 30 50 81 5 5982050 21 39 66 10 598206 23 28 68 81 4 598207 0 15 53 70 8 598208 22 38 6481 4 598209 0 18 50 75 7 598210 10 14 45 76 8 598211 14 39 69 80 4598212 19 16 27 45 >20 598213 25 0 30 61 14 564325 17 22 35 53 17 56443135 36 45 66 7 564387 18 35 53 53 6

TABLE 34 Percent reduction of P23H rhodopsin mRNA in mutant HEK293 cells(E5-M) ISIS No 0.74 μM 2.22 μM 6.67 μM 20.00 μM IC₅₀ (μM) 564389 15 3342 57 11 564425 0 39 49 58 8 586136 14 33 55 72 6 586137 10 39 26 62 13598202 20 40 58 65 4 598203 0 20 46 57 11 598204 8 29 52 61 8 598205 124 38 59 12 598206 15 49 66 67 3 598207 16 29 49 54 11 598208 20 30 5954 5 598209 17 33 53 63 7 598210 14 29 50 68 7 598211 17 39 58 77 4598212 14 21 51 64 8 598213 8 13 27 42 >20 564325 31 18 29 56 17 56443115 33 45 54 12 564387 24 32 51 51 12

TABLE 35 Percent reduction of wild-type rhodopsin mRNA in WT HEK293cells (E5-C) ISIS No 0.74 μM 2.22 μM 6.67 μM 20.00 μM IC₅₀ (μM) 598214 04 28 51 19 598215 0 9 17 41 >20 598216 0 3 16 48 >20 598217 0 6 1030 >20 598218 0 8 18 25 >20 598219 0 9 7 29 >20 564389 13 0 36 63 14564424 10 4 31 47 >20 564425 0 0 20 60 19 564426 0 16 47 56 11 586125 3549 69 74 2 586126 18 27 57 71 6 586127 12 25 51 68 7 586128 14 37 50 657 586129 52 67 81 83 1 564325 25 28 36 61 12 564431 13 41 59 60 4 5643877 12 54 76 7

TABLE 36 Percent reduction of P23H rhodopsin mRNA in mutant HEK293 cells(E5-M) ISIS No 0.74 μM 2.22 μM 6.67 μM 20.00 μM IC₅₀ (μM) 598214 32 4657 72 3 598215 21 39 39 66 8 598216 18 26 30 53 17 598217 7 20 16 50 20598218 5 6 21 48 >20 598219 0 13 33 45 >20 564389 1 39 31 60 12 564424 024 25 44 >20 564425 20 41 51 54 9 564426 19 31 50 60 8 586125 0 19 25 5320 586126 15 22 35 42 >20 586127 7 13 4 28 >20 586128 2 10 18 18 >20586129 17 19 34 48 >20 564325 30 23 33 50 19 564431 2 24 39 42 >20564387 11 12 53 64 9

The summary table is shown below and indicates that only a few antisenseoligonucleotides selectively reduced mutant rhodopsin mRNA levelscompared to WT rhodopsin levels. A selectivity of indicates that theantisense oligonucleotide did not selectively reduce the mutant sequencecompared to the control. A negative selectivity value indicates that theantisense oligonucleotide targeted the wild-type sequence more potentlythan the mutant sequence.

TABLE 37 Selectivity of antisense oligonucleotides ISIS No Selectivity598214 5.8 598215 2.6 598216 1.2 598217 1.0 598218 1.0 598219 1.0 5643891.0 564424 1.0 564425 1.7 564426 1.4 586125 −9.5 586126 −3.5 586127 −2.8586128 −2.9 586129 −31.5 564325 −1.6 564431 −5.0 564387 −1.2 564389 1.0564425 2.0 586136 1.2 586137 1.2 598202 1.0 598203 −1.4 598204 −1.5598205 −1.2 598206 1.3 598207 1.5 598208 −1.3 598209 1.0 598210 1.2598211 −1.1 598212 2.5 598213 −1.5 564325 1.0 564431 −1.7 564387 −2.1

Example 8: Efficacy and Selectivity of Antisense OligonucleotidesTargeting Human Rhodopsin in Transgenic Mice

Antisense oligonucleotides selected from the studies described abovewere further tested in transgenic mouse models. The germline of thesemice were inserted with either a wild-type rhodopsin allele or a P23Hmutant rhodopsin allele from a retinitis pigmentosa patient.

Study 1

P23H Tg mice were randomly divided into treatment groups of 4 mice each.ISIS oligonucleotides were injected via intravitreal injection in theright eye of each of the mice. The left eye of the animals was injectedwith PBS and served as the control. Mice were sacrificed after 7 days.Human rhodopsin expression from eye tissue was measured with thehuman-specific primer probe set RTS3363. The results are normalized tothe expression of mouse cone rod homeobox. Percent inhibition isrelative to the expression seen in the eye tissue treated with PBS. A‘0’ value inhibition only indicates that the oligonucleotide did notinhibit expression of in this particular instance. The data arepresented in the Table below and demonstrated that the antisenseoligonucleotides inhibit expression of mutant P23H rhodopsin gene in adose-dependent manner.

TABLE 38 % inhibition of human mutant P23H rhodopsin expression ISIS NoChemistry Dose (μg) % inhibition 564431 3-10-3 cEt 20 64 564426 3-10-3cEt 50 63 20 42 10 12 664844 Deoxy, MOE, and cEt 50 50 20 41 10 32664860 Deoxy, MOE, and cEt 50 44 20 39 10 30 664867 Deoxy,2′-alpha-fluoro 50 62 and cEt 20 25 10 0 664884 Deoxy, MOE, and cEt 5068 20 48 10 17

Study 2

Human WT rhodopsin Tg mice were randomly divided into treatment groupsof 3-6 mice each. ISIS oligonucleotides, selected from the studiesdescribed above, were injected via intravitreal injection in the righteye of each of the mice. The left eye of the animals was injected withPBS and served as the control. Mice were sacrificed after 7 days. Humanrhodopsin expression from eye tissue was measured with thehuman-specific primer probe set RTS3363. The results are normalized tothe expression of mouse cone rod homeobox. Percent inhibition isrelative to the expression seen in the eye tissue treated with PBS. A‘0’ value inhibition only indicates that the oligonucleotide did notinhibit expression of in this particular instance. The results arepresented in the Table below and demonstrate the several antisenseoligonucleotides do not effectively inhibit expression of the wild-typerhodopsin gene.

TABLE 39 % reduction in human WT rhodopsin expression ISIS No ChemistryDose (μg) % inhibition 564389 3-10-3 cEt 50 10 20 0 10 10 564426 3-10-3cEt 50 21 20 3 10 0 664844 Deoxy, MOE and cEt 50 22 20 24 10 0 664860Deoxy, MOE and cEt 50 39 20 19 10 5 664884 Deoxy, MOE and cEt 50 28 20 010 2 664867 Deoxy, 2′-alpha-fluoro 50 9 and cEt 20 16 10 7

Example 9: Confirmation of Efficacy and Selectivity of AntisenseOligonucleotides Targeting Human Rhodopsin in Transgenic Mice

Select antisense oligonucleotides that demonstrated potency andselectivity in the studies described above were further tested in thehuman P23H or wild-type rhodopsin transgenic mouse models. The datademonstrates the selectivity of the leads for the mutant rhodopsin gene.

Study 1

P23H Tg mice were randomly divided into treatment groups of 4 mice each.ISIS oligonucleotides, selected from the studies described above, wereinjected via intravitreal injection in the right eye of each of themice. The left eye of the animals was injected with PBS and served asthe control. Mice were sacrificed after 7 days. Human rhodopsinexpression from eye tissue was measured with the human-specific primerprobe set RTS3363. The results are normalized to the expression of mousecone rod homeobox. Percent inhibition is relative to the expression seenin the eye treated with PBS. The data presented in the Table below arethe average of two separate experiments and demonstrate that theantisense oligonucleotides inhibit expression of mutant rhodopsin genein a dose-dependent manner.

TABLE 40 % inhibition of human mutant P23H rhodopsin expression ISIS NoChemistry Dose (μg) % inhibition 564426 3-10-3 cEt 50 68 35 45 20 27664844 Deoxy, MOE, and cEt 50 40 35 37 20 20 664867 Deoxy,2′-alpha-fluoro 50 58 and cEt 35 43 20 26 664884 Deoxy, MOE, and cEt 5051 35 48 20 25

Study 2

Human WT rhodopsin Tg mice were randomly divided into treatment groupsof 4 mice each. ISIS oligonucleotides, selected from the studiesdescribed above, were injected via intravitreal injection in the righteye of each of the mice. The left eye of the animals was injected withPBS and served as the control.

Mice were sacrificed after 7 days. Human rhodopsin expression from eyetissue was measured with the human-specific primer probe set RTS3363.The results are normalized to the expression of mouse cone rod homeobox.Percent inhibition is relative to the expression seen in the eye treatedwith PBS. The data presented in the Table below are the average of twoseparate experiments and demonstrate that the antisense oligonucleotidesdo not target the WT rhodopsin gene.

TABLE 41 % inhibition of human WT rhodopsin expression ISIS No ChemistryDose (μg) % inhibition 564426 3-10-3 cEt 50 13 35 13 664844 Deoxy, MOE,and cEt 50 16 35 17 664867 Deoxy, 2′-alpha-fluoro 50 12 and cEt 35 3664884 Deoxy, MOE, and cEt 50 14 35 1

Example 10: Tolerability Study of Antisense Oligonucleotides TargetingHuman Mutant P23H Rhodopsin in Cynomolgus Monkeys

Cynomolgus monkeys were treated with ISIS antisense oligonucleotidesselected from studies described in the Examples above. The objective ofthis study was to determine the tolerability of the antisenseoligonucleotides when given as a single intravitreal injection tocynomolgous monkeys. A cynomolgus surrogate ASO, ISIS 602881, wasincluded in the study.

At the time this study was undertaken, the cynomolgus monkey genomicsequence was not available in the National Center for BiotechnologyInformation (NCBI) database; therefore, cross-reactivity with thecynomolgus monkey gene sequence could not be confirmed. Instead, thesequences of the ISIS antisense oligonucleotides used in the cynomolgusmonkeys was compared to a rhesus monkey sequence for homology. It isexpected that ISIS oligonucleotides with homology to the rhesus monkeysequence are fully cross-reactive with the cynomolgus monkey sequence aswell. The human antisense oligonucleotides tested are cross-reactivewith the rhesus genomic sequence (the complement of GENBANK AccessionNo. NW 001096632.1 truncated from nucleotides 1522000 to 1532000,designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 4). The greater the complementaritybetween the human oligonucleotide and the rhesus monkey sequence, themore likely the human oligonucleotide can cross-react with thecynomolgus monkey sequence. “Start site” indicates the 5′-mostnucleotide to which the gapmer is targeted in the rhesus monkey genesequence. ‘Mismatches’ indicates the number of nucleobases mismatchedbetween the human oligonucleotide sequence and the rhesus monkey genomicsequence.

TABLE 42Antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the rhesus rhodopsingenomic sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4) Target SEQ ISIS Start Mis- ID No Sitematches Sequence Chemistry NO 564426 1525 1 TACTCGAAGTGGCTGC 3-10-3 cEt15 664867 1525 1 TACUCGAAGTGGCTGC Deoxy, 2′-alpha-fluoro 64 and cEt664884 1525 1 ACTCGAAGTGGCTGC Deoxy, MOE and cEt 29 664844 1527 1GGTACTCGAAGTGGCT Deoxy, MOE and cEt 21 602881 6434 0 TCATTCTGCACAGGCG3-10-3 cEt 70

Treatment

Prior to the study, the monkeys were kept in quarantine during which theanimals were observed daily for general health. The monkeys were 2-4years old and weighed between 2 and 6 kg. The monkeys were randomizedand assigned to groups, as shown the Table below. The monkeys wereinjected in the left eye (OS) with either PBS or various ASO doses andin the right eye (OD) with various ASO doses. ‘OS’ stands for ‘oculussinister’ (left eye) and ‘OD’ stands for ‘oculus dexter’ (right eye).

TABLE 43 Monkey groups Test Dose material OS/OD No. of Group No. ISIS NoOS/OD (μg/eye) animals 1 564426 PBS/ASO  0/150 4 2 ASO/ASO 450/450 3 3ASO/ASO 750/750 2 4 ASO/ASO 1500/1500 1 5 664844 PBS/ASO  0/150 4 6ASO/ASO 450/450 3 7 ASO/ASO 750/750 2 8 ASO/ASO 1500/1500 1 9 664867PBS/ASO  0/150 4 10 ASO/ASO 450/450 3 11 ASO/ASO 750/750 2 12 ASO/ASO1500/1500 1 13 664884 PBS/ASO  0/150 4 14 ASO/ASO 450/450 3 15 ASO/ASO750/750 2 16 ASO/ASO 1500/1500 1 17 602881 PBS/ASO  0/400 4

Doses were administered on Day 1. Food was withheld prior to sedation.The animals were sedated with ketamine and dexdomitor for the dosingprocedure. The eyes were cleansed with Betadine® and rinsed with sterilesaline. Prior to the dose administration, a mydriatic (1% tropicamide)was instilled in each eye, followed by a topical anesthetic. Anintravitreal injection of ASO or PBS was administered in each eye. A lidspeculum was inserted to keep the lids open during the procedure and theglobe was retracted. The needle was inserted through the sclera and parsplana approximately 4 mm posterior to the limbus. The needle wasdirected posterior to the lens into the mid vitreous. The test materialwas slowly injected into the mid-vitreous. Forceps were used to graspthe conjunctiva surrounding the syringe prior to needle withdrawal.Following dosing, all eyes were examined with an indirect ophthalmoscopeto identify any visible post-dosing problems and confirm test materialdeposition. Sedation was reversed with antisedan. A topical antibioticwas dispensed onto each eye immediately following dosing and one dayafter dosing to prevent infection.

RNA Analysis

On day 70, eyes were collected within 10 min of exsanguination, rapidlyfrozen by submersion in liquid nitrogen, and placed on dry ice. Eyeswere harvested from monkeys that had been treated with 150 μg or 450 μgof ISIS 564426, ISIS 664844, ISIS 664867, ISIS 664884 and 400 μg of ISIS602881. RNA was extracted from the eye tissue for real-time PCR analysisof mRNA expression. The data from the PBS control eyes were evaluatedand the average was calculated. Results are presented as percentinhibition of mRNA, relative to the PBS control, normalized to cone rodhomeobox expression. A ‘0’ value inhibition only indicates that theoligonucleotide did not inhibit expression of in this particularinstance.

TABLE 44 % rhodopsin inhibition compared to PBS control ISIS No Dose(μg) % inhibition 564426 150 0 450 25 664844 150 8 450 14 664867 450 21664884 150 10 450 46 602881 400 54

Electroretinography (ERG)

The potential effect of the antisense oligonucleotides on oculartolerability was determined by measuring the ERG response of the animalsfollowing 9 weeks of treatment. The light-adapted b-wave ERG responseprovided an assessment of the function of the cone photoreceptors andthe bipolar cells in the eye (Hood and Birch, Visual Neuroscience. 1992.8: 107-126; Bouskila et al., Plos One 2014. 9: e111569).Electroretinograms (ERGs) were recorded using a UTAS E-3000 VisualElectrodiagnostic System. Light-adapted b-wave ERG responses inanesthetized monkeys were measured after stimulation with white light atluminance intensity of 2.7 cd.m².

The results are presented in the Table below as percent of baselineamplitude (means±SD). As shown in the Table below, at the higher dosageof 750 μg of ISIS 564426, ISIS 664867 and ISIS 664884 per eye, theb-wave response trended towards lower levels. Furthermore, response inanimals treated with ISIS 564426 trended lower at a dose of 450 μg pereye. These results indicate that ISIS 664844 is more tolerable than ISIS564426, ISIS 664867, or ISIS 664884.

TABLE 45 Light-adapted (photopic) b-wave amplitude (% baseline) DoseLevel (μg/eye) ISIS No 0 150 450 750 564426  88 ± 24 94 ± 27 50 ± 18 48± 19 664844 111 ± 43 87 ± 36 78 ± 13 106 ± 47  664867  83 ± 28 69 ± 1453 ± 18 25 ± 26 664884 84 ± 7 107 ± 41  82 ± 29 35 ± 24

Pathology

After exsanguination, eyes with bulbar conjunctivae and attached opticnerve were collected from various groups and preserved in modifiedDavidson's fixative for 48-72 hours. The tissues were then transferredto 70% alcohol for at least 24 hours prior to processing to paraffinblock. The paraffin-embedded samples were sectioned parallel to theciliary artery to include optic nerve, macula, and optic disc. After thesection was faced, 5 sections at approximately 30-micron steps, werecollected. The sections were mounted on glass slides, stained withhematoxylin and eosin and analyzed for histopathology. The findings arepresented in the Table below. ‘OS’ indicates ‘outer stripe’; ‘IS’indicates ‘Inner stripe’; ‘ONL’ indicates ‘outer nuclear layer’; ‘INL’indicates ‘inner nuclear layer’; ‘GCL’ indicates ‘ganglion cell layer’.These results indicate that ISIS 664844 is more tolerable than ISIS564426, ISIS 664867, or ISIS 664884.

TABLE 46 Pathology findings in monkey screening study Dose/eye ISIS No450 μg 750 μg 1500 μg 564426 Not remarkable Not remarkable Min decreasedcellularity ONL 664844 Not remarkable Not remarkable Not remarkable664867 Not remarkable Slightly decreased Slightly decreased cellularityONL cellularity ONL 664884 Not remarkable Slightly decreased Loss ofONL, IS cellularity ONL; slight and OS; Slight vacuolation ONL decreasedcellularity GCL and INL

Additional Tolerability Assays

Ophthalmic examinations were conducted by an Ophthalmology IndividualScientist once during pretreatment, during week 1 (within 2-4 daysfollowing dose administration), and during weeks 3, 6, and 9. Theanimals were lightly sedated with ketamine prior to this procedure. Slitlamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy was used. The anteriorsegment was scored using the Hackett McDonald scale (Hackett, R. B. andMcDonald, T. O. 1996. “Assessing Ocular Irritation” in:Dermatotoxicology. 5^(th) edition. Ed. By F. B. Marzuli and H. I.Maiback. Hemisphere Publishing Corp., Washington, D.C.).

Tonometry assessments were performed once pretreatment and during weeks3 and 9 at approximately the same time of day. Intraocular pressure(IOP) measurements were performed on sedated animals using apneumotonometer under laboratory light conditions.

Pachymetry (corneal thickness) measurements were performed oncepretreatment and during weeks 6 and 9. Measurements of the centralcornea was performed on sedated animals.

Non-contact Specular Microscopy (NCSM) was performed once pretreatmentand during weeks 5 and 9.

All the assessments are tabulated below. A ‘√’ sign indicates acceptableresults; a ‘X’ indicates not acceptable. The results indicate that ISIS664844 is more tolerable compared to ISIS 564426, ISIS 664867, or ISIS664884.

TABLE 47 Tolerability screen in monkey study ISIS ISIS ISIS ISIS ISISTest Utility 564426 664844 664867 664884 602881 Ophthalmic Cataracts,major ✓ ✓ ✓ X ✓ Exam retina or vitreous abnormalities Tonometry IOP ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ Pachymetry Corneal thickness ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ NCSM Corneal endothelial ✓✓ ✓ ✓ X cellularity, corneal thickness Histology Cellularity changes ✓ ✓X X ✓

Example 11: Screening Summary

Over 400 antisense oligonucleotides (>200 ASOs having a MOE sugarmodification and >200 ASOs having a cEt modification) were screened asdescribed in Examples 1-10 above. Out of more than 400 ASOs, ISIS 664844exhibited the best combination of properties in terms of potency,tolerability, and selectivity for P23H rhodopsin.

What is claimed:
 1. (canceled)
 2. (canceled)
 3. A compound comprising(i) a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 16 to 30 linked nucleosideshaving a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21,or 64, or (ii) a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 15 to 30 linkednucleosides having a nucleobase sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:
 29. 4. Acompound comprising a modified oligonucleotide having a nucleobasesequence consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 21, 29, or
 64. 5-12.(canceled)
 13. The compound of claim 1, wherein the modifiedoligonucleotide comprises: a gap segment consisting of linkeddeoxynucleosides; a 5′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides;and a 3′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides; wherein the gapsegment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment and the 3′ wingsegment and wherein each nucleoside of each wing segment comprises amodified sugar.
 14. The compound of claim 1, wherein the oligonucleotideis at least 90% complementary to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3.
 15. Thecompound of claim 1, wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises atleast one modified internucleoside linkage, at least one modified sugar,or at least one modified nucleobase.
 16. The compound of claim 15,wherein the modified internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioateinternucleoside linkage.
 17. The compound of claim 15, wherein themodified sugar is a bicyclic sugar.
 18. The compound of claim 17,wherein the bicyclic sugar is selected from the group consisting of:4′-(CH₂)—O-2′ (LNA); 4′-(CH₂)₂—O-2′ (ENA); and 4′-CH(CH₃)—O-2′ (cEt).19. The compound of claim 15, wherein the modified sugar is2′-O-methoxyethyl.
 20. The compound of claim 15, wherein the modifiednucleobase is a 5-methylcytosine.
 21. The compound of claim 1, whereinthe modified oligonucleotide consists of 16 linked nucleosides having anucleobase sequence consisting of the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 15,wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises: a gap segment consistingof ten linked deoxynucleosides; a 5′ wing segment consisting of threelinked nucleosides; and a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linkednucleosides; wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wingsegment and the 3′ wing segment; wherein each nucleoside of each wingsegment comprises a cEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is aphosphorothioate linkage; and wherein each cytosine is a5-methylcytosine.
 22. The compound of claim 1, wherein the modifiedoligonucleotide consists of 16 linked nucleosides having a nucleobasesequence consisting of the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 64, whereinthe modified oligonucleotide comprises: a gap segment consisting of ninelinked deoxynucleosides; a 5′ wing segment consisting of four linkednucleosides; and a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linkednucleosides; wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wingsegment and the 3′ wing segment; wherein the 5′ wing segment comprises acEt sugar, a cEt sugar, a cEt sugar, and a 2′-flouro sugar in the 5′ to3′ direction; wherein each nucleoside of the 3′ wing segment comprises acEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioatelinkage; and wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.
 23. A compoundcomprising a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 16 linkednucleosides having a nucleobase sequence consisting of the sequencerecited in SEQ ID NO: 21, wherein the modified oligonucleotidecomprises: a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides; a 5′wing segment consisting of two linked nucleosides; and a 3′ wing segmentconsisting of four linked nucleosides; wherein the gap segment ispositioned between the 5′ wing segment and the 3′ wing segment; whereineach nucleoside of the 5′ wing segment comprises a cEt sugar; whereinthe 3′ wing segment comprises a cEt sugar, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar, acEt sugar, and a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar in the 5′ to 3′ direction;wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage; andwherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.
 24. The compound of claim1, wherein the modified oligonucleotide consists of 15 linkednucleosides having a nucleobase sequence consisting of the sequencerecited in SEQ ID NO: 29, wherein the modified oligonucleotidecomprises: a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides; a 5′wing segment consisting of two linked nucleosides; and a 3′ wing segmentconsisting of three linked nucleosides; wherein the gap segment ispositioned between the 5′ wing segment and the 3′ wing segment; whereineach nucleoside of the 5′ wing segment comprises a cEt sugar; whereinthe 3′ wing segment comprises a cEt sugar, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar,and a cEt sugar in the 5′ to 3′ direction; wherein each internucleosidelinkage is a phosphorothioate linkage; and wherein each cytosine is a5-methylcytosine.
 25. (canceled)
 26. The compound of claim 23, whereinthe compound consists of the modified oligonucleotide.
 27. (canceled)28. (canceled)
 29. (canceled)
 30. A composition comprising the compoundof claim 23 or salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.31. A method of treating, preventing, ameliorating, or slowingprogression of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in a subject comprisingadministering to the subject the compound of claim 23 or composition ofclaim 30, thereby treating, preventing, ameliorating, or slowingprogression of retinitis pigmentosa.
 32. The method of claim 31, whereinthe retinitis pigmentosa is autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa(AdRP).
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the AdRP is associated withP23H rhodopsin.
 34. The method of claim 31, wherein the subject has aP23H rhodopsin allele.
 35. The method of claim 31, wherein administeringthe compound or composition improves, preserves, or prevents worseningof visual function, visual field, photoreceptor cell function,electroretinogram (ERG) response, or visual acuity.
 36. The method ofclaim 31, wherein administering the compound or composition inhibits,prevents, or delays progression of photoreceptor cell loss ordeterioration of the retina outer nuclear layer.
 37. The method of claim31, wherein administering the compound or composition selectivelyinhibits expression of P23H rhodopsin over wild-type rhodopsin in thesubject. 38-53. (canceled)